I just finished reading the Hammett Biography by Diane
Johnson. The Flitcraft Parable was also somewhat
autobiographical.
Hammett essentially left his wife and kids to have a double
life as a rich and famous writer/celebrity.
Also, Hammett was drawn to a heavily regimented life and
seemed to enjoy it, as much as anyone can enjoy prison, two
stints in the army and one in the army hospital. So the idea
of a man living a systematic, routine existence appealed to
him.
Where Hammett's life and Flitcraft's deviates is where
Flitcraft started another identical existence with a new
family.
--Channing
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