Re: RARA-AVIS: real people, real places


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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