>It is Chandler who
>so often is said to write "real books," not "just
mysteries," as if that
>were something to be ashamed of. So I think a good
case could be made
>that Chandler is more respected, if not better known,
than the other two
>in non-mystery circles.
This is true, I think, but I want to add to the "film keeps
him famous" quibble. In my experience, when one mentions
Raymond Chandler in the UK people tend to reply "Oh, yes. The
Maltese Falcon." The face of Bogart is the real
survivor.
To reply to an earlier, post as well, I don't think one
should necessarily only consider the popularity of a writer
in his/her own country. An Australian magazine would do its
readers no favours by pointing them to writers unavailable in
book shops (since most people don't bother to order things
not on the shelves). And anyway, where is James Joyce read
most? In Ireland, or on literature courses in the USA? In
Britain he (and other Irish writers such as Wilde, Sheridan
et al) is usually regarded as part of the "English" canon.
And of course Chandler's early novels were much better
respected (and reviewed) in the UK than the US, while the
late novels even appeared here first. An American writer,
sure, but there are more readers outside the US than inside.
Let's not extend Dubya's isolationism to literature as
well.
Cheers Chris
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