: The hardboiled story is a ROMANCE in the Arthurian manner.
The
: modern word "free-lancer" has its roots in the age of
chivalry. A
: free-lancer did not pledge loyalty to any liege. He
operated by his
: own personal code of honor. He is a VOICE of morality &
ethics; he
: speaks only for himself.
Interesting. But couldn't you make an equally good case that
they're
quests? Romances, as I understand them, are open ended.
Quests have
a definite goal in mind: a ring, a grail, a fact. Detectives
are
after the piece of information that will reveal the criminal.
When
they get it, things close and the case is over. How passing
over
water and atoning with the father fit in, I'm not sure, but
detective
stories (hardboiled or not) and quests seem to have a lot in
common.
Bill
--
William Denton | Toronto, Canada | http://www.vex.net/~buff/ | Caveat lector.
"Let's keep the party polite."
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