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A review by tomebro
The Simple Art of Murder by Raymond Chandler
4.0
Once you get past the pretensiousness that Chandler demonstrates in his thinking, he does actually make some good points on the nature of detective fiction and what its place is in the realm of literature. I agree with thinking that since all literature is a form of escape, then wanting to dig into the small items in a story should be alright in detective literature - especially since most detective stories are built on that.
His idea of realism as a genre is also interesting. He brings the detective novel into the real world, where he says it belongs. Rather than "provide a corpse" for a mystery to revolve around, the circumstances and people who are surrounded by it are complex, dark, and may beyond an individual's understanding.
That's why Sam Spade, Sherlock Holmes, and others persist and are popular. We want someone like them to make the world a little safer.
His idea of realism as a genre is also interesting. He brings the detective novel into the real world, where he says it belongs. Rather than "provide a corpse" for a mystery to revolve around, the circumstances and people who are surrounded by it are complex, dark, and may beyond an individual's understanding.
That's why Sam Spade, Sherlock Holmes, and others persist and are popular. We want someone like them to make the world a little safer.