Dashiell Hammett

Dashiell Hammett was a prominent American author, best known for his contributions to the hardboiled crime fiction genre. He was born on May 27, 1894, and died on January 10, 1961. Hammett's works have had a significant influence on film noir, and he is often regarded as one of the finest mystery writers of all time. His most famous characters include Sam Spade, Nick and Nora Charles, and the Continental Op, which he based on people he knew or had heard of from his previous career as a Pinkerton agent.

Before becoming an author, Hammett worked as a Pinkerton detective, an experience that allowed him to bring a level of authenticity and realism to his stories. His writing was unique in that it depicted the gritty details of detective work, appealing to an audience that was not afraid to witness it. Hammett's novel "The Maltese Falcon," which features his most famous character Sam Spade, has been particularly influential in the genre of Film Noir.

Hammett's career as an author was over by 1934, but he continued to be active in left-wing activism and anti-fascism for the remainder of his life. He received many accolades for his work, including being called the "dean of the... 'hard-boiled' school of detective fiction" in his obituary in the New York Times. Time magazine included Hammett's 1929 novel Red Harvest on a list of the 100 best English-language novels published between 1923 and 2005.