Anne Stancek (astancek@execulink.com)
Sun, 21 Nov 1999 19:22:58 -0500
Bill Hagen wrote:
> Paul Duncan recently wrote (about Ellroy's
fiction),
> So, not only are the stars real people, but some of
the lowlifes and
> bottom-feeders turn out to be real as
well.
>
> I was reminded of a letter by Ross Thomas,
concerning Briarpatch, one of
> his best novels. It's situated in a midwestern city
that folks in my
> region recognize as Oklahoma City, where Thomas was
raised and began
> writing (journalism, PR), before the government
(CIA?) "gave" him some
> experiences that darken and complicate his best
work. In the letter,
> Thomas talks about how place works for him,
providing a sort of reservoir
> of types, places and experiences that he can draw
on: "Sometimes when I
> need a character for a book, I will dip into my
mental collection of
> Oklahoma scalawags, highbinders, slick articles and
flimflam men...and come
> up with exactly what's needed. The state for me
remains an invaluable data
> bank." Earlier in the letter, he says, "It [Oklahoma
City] is also the
> only city I ever dream about."
>
> I love to run across quotes and connections like
this one, since it's my
> firm belief that hardboiled/noir fiction continues
the realistic tradition
> of attending to place and the pressure of place on
characters' actions.
> It's part of the enjoyment, to read the NY of Block,
the Miami of
> Willeford, the Harlem of Himes, and the LA of
Ellroy.
>
> Bill Hagen
> <billha@ionet.net>
>
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.
Ross Thomas was one of the true greats. How did you come
across his letter, Bill? He surely does not have a collection
of published letters? Andrew
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