About this title: Chandler's most famous protagonist, private detective Philip Marlowe, appears in this first novel, "The Big Sleep". Drawn from Arthurian legend, Marlowe is a modern knight, dedicated to causes greater than himself and to restoring order in the world. Marlowe's first priority is always his client. He is also wary of the authorities, although ...
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Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Pocket Books
Date Published: 1967
Description: Good. No Jacket. Size: 4 1/4" x 6 1/4"; Cover has some scuffs. Edges/spine have some wear/chips. Binding good, text free of notes. Spine is slanted. Page edges have age toning. Philip MarloweConfirmation on all Domestic Orders! read more
Edition: 3rd printing
Binding: Mass-market paperback
Publisher: Pocket Books, Inc., New York, N. Y.
Date Published: 1950
Description: Good. No dust jacket as issued. (081708) Mass Market Paperback is in Good condition with wear at spine edges, creases bottom right corner, tip end upper right corner shows faint water stain all inside pages, bacov dirty near spine edge. 214 p. 16 cm. Pocket Book Edition.. read more
Binding: Audio Cassette
Publisher: Audio Literature
Date Published: 1993-09
ISBN-13:9781558006904ISBN:1558006907
Description: Fair. EX-Library 2 cassettes in good working order. In a Plastic case. Expected Library markings and wear. Fair condition overall. Thank you for your time and consideration. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Vintage
Date Published: 1988-07-12
ISBN-13:9780394758282ISBN:0394758285
Description: Good. This paperback book is clean with clean edges, no writing on the inside pages. The cover has edge wear. The book is tight and is in good condition. We have a 100% refund 5 day NO HASSLE return policy if you are not satisfied. -We ship daily with USPS Delivery Confirmation. read more
Description: Good. Former Library book. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Very Good. 0787120502 **Cassette Tape Version**-exactly as described, Exact UPC match. Includes Box/Case, and has been previously Gently Used, though the box/case may have some shelf wear and rubbing. *Not* an ex-rental or library item, only been listened to once or twice at most. Tapes all are functioning and it plays well. -Ships Quickly! All our items are IN STOCK. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Date Published: 1966
Description: Hard Back, Good, No Dust Jacket, Gold titled on Blue cover with red spine; edges bumped mild wear; 5.5 x 8.25 inches; 219 pgs.; ISBN: NA; Keywords: Mystery. read more
"I enjoyed this one at face value as well as retrospectively observing our culture. For the former, Chandler might well be a poet. His prose is quite discriptive and he effortlessly establishes his venues with a rather artistic flourish. However, he doesn't get lost in his details as some tend to do. The plot moves along quite well but does seem to have too many climactic spikes for my taste. I have noticed that in recent literature (and movies) we have become farmiliar with a long build up and then one huge climax (usually with a twist)...so, maybe this is just me! :) As to culture, Chandler provids us a view of our past, complete with weak and duplicitious female characters (no surprise there-though I don't hold it against Chanler as it appears that this was unintentional and gum-shoe type stories are gorged with les femmes fatale). The one female that just brushes "heroine" does not get much time in the novel and, for the time she does have, she is disguised and I didn't come away with a clear picture of her. I suppose that could be a reflection of the 1930's view of women in general: women were feared or minimized because they were an unknown; essentially disguised by culture and laws, etc... Chandler also offers some insight into social classes as well and there is the intriguing repetition of the color blue! I could go on but I think it's enought to say that this book has a lot to offer. Glad to have read it."
"I've wanted to read Mr. Chandler for ages now, and his own life story (conveniently included at the beginning of this edition) shows up a fascinating and plucky gentleman. As the virtual inventor of the modern detective novel, his achievement and influence is undeniable. When reading TBS, I could see private dick Philip Marlowe in every 40s film noir ever made, gravelly voice, smoked up sexiness, tipped hat, aggressive banter and slang, hard assed yet sensitive, too cool for school.
Mr. Chandler's writing is razor sharp and vivid when he is recreating the seedy underbelly of LA. I loved his language. The dialogue was so very quick and witty and full of fabulous 30's and 40's slang, and his descriptions border on poetry at times, gunshot grim and gorgeous.
My one complaint: I found TBS a bit of a 'boy' book: too much mafia and manly men, women all beautiful and wasted, and a plot so convoluted that I couldn't keep up. This last I found to be the most distracting of all. Marlowe was always a step ahead of the game, in the right place at the right time, knew what to say and when not to say it, page after damned page. Halfway through, I gave up trying to understand what was going on and just read for the mayhem and fun of it (and this wasn't difficult at all)."
"Well, I have a crush on the main character. That's a fact. That almost got me up to 5 stars. But, if I'm going to be totally honest, the plot was a bit convoluted for me. This was my first Chandler detective story, and I never got my ah-ha! moment, mainly (I think) because I was so busy trying to keep all the characters straight. That being said, Chandler is a master with language and quick, razor sharp descriptions (that are often funny as well), which I loved."
"Right up my alley. I am a noir/crime fiction fan, and this is the best I have read. Chandler's prose seems effortless. And yet it is brilliant and funny and daunting. Also, Phillip Marlowe is one of my all-time favorite characters. Read this book."
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