Having excused myself at length (!), let me say that I was
surprised to
find in several of the stories a gallant or even romantic
attitude toward
women. The girl friend of the boxer, who kills (in self
defense), in "Guns
at Cyrano's," Francine Ley in "Nevada Gas," and "I'll Be
Waiting" all
prove themselves, in a fashion, and there is either an
anticipated or
possible future relationship with the protagonist at the end.
In each
case, the women have been attracted or connected to another
man, now dead,
and could stay with a guy who knows how to survive. I
especially like the
wistful ending of "Guns at Cyrano's" (the girl falling asleep
in the middle
of the smile), which occurs after Carmady gives the "if
you're a tramp, I'm
worse...so we belong together" speech.
Is 1936 regarded as a year when Chandler elevated his
art?
I ask, because "Guns...," "Pick-Up on Noon Street," and
"Goldfish" were all
published that year, and seem especially strong. I like the
treatment of
the "pick-up," a scared kid who could, up to the end, fall
for the Pete,
after all he's done for her, but she has the bad taste to
fall all over the
wounded hunk, Vidaury. Nice, minor key turn. And then
"Goldfish" has the
memorably ruthless Carol Donovan--is she the first of her
type in
Chandler's fiction? (Don't think we should count the wife who
kills her
husband in "Smart-Aleck Kill" or Adrian in "Guns...") I liked
the way
Carol is "echoed" by another woman who can kill and scheme a
bit, Mrs.
Sype--like a musical variation of a main theme.
In both "Goldfish" and "Pick-Up...," Chandler seems to have
moved his
protagonist nearer to Marlowe, too, since both are
professionals, rather
than complete freelancers with a code.
Anyway, it's a treat to see more character development, and a
more
deliberate plotting, moving away from the hectic (confusing)
pace of
"Blackmailers Don't Shoot."
Early stories (1934-5) I didn't have access to include
"Spanish Blood" and
"Finger Man." Be interested in how they might back up or
undercut my
speculations about the 1936 stories in the collection.
Hope the revs some responses. I miss the "old days," when we
really got
into it about the readings.
Bill Hagen
<billha@ionet.net>
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