The Big Knockover is another hard-fisted volume of Dashiell Hammett. A collection of short (or long) stories, these are all tales of the Continental Op dating from the 1920s. The exception is a semi-autobiographical slice-of-life story, Tulip, dating from the 1950s -- actually a fragment from an unfinished novel, it seems. There is also a long introduction, written in 1965, by Lillian Hellman, Hammett's long-time companion -- an interesting alternative view. The Op stories are primal hard-boilage, from The Scorched Face (which I've raved about before) to Corkscrew (perhaps the original prototype of the 'stranger rides into wild western town and proceeds to play the factions against each other' storyline?) to the epic two-part heist yarn, The Big Knockover / $106,000 Blood Money (full of twists and double-crosses all 'round). Essential reading for the noir fan.
I found another review of this for you to check out. Jeffrey Zeldman also enjoyed this collection.
http://www.coudal.com/readingreviews.php?review=004297.php
Posted by Dean at 08:26 AM, June 26, 2003.