THE AMERICAN DETECTIVE An Illustrated History

Jeff Siegel offers a critical  overview of all the significant American detectives: Ellery Queen, Nick Carter, Nero Wolfe, Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones, Joe Friday, the 87th Precinct, Perry Mason, Jessica Fletcher, Philo Vance, V. I. Warshawski, Sam Spade, Philip Marlow, Charlie Chan and many more, charting their contributions to the genre and rating their lasting importance. The best ten American detectives find their places in the "Gumshoe Hall of Fame."  He also examines the influences of such writers as Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, Chester Himes, Erle Stanley Gardner, Rex Stout, Tony Hillerman, Robert Parker, Sue Grafton, John Carroll Daly and others whose work is central to the development of the American detective. And throughout Siegel answers, in an opinionated, sometimes controversial manner, such questions as : Is the hard-boiled detective dead?, What do the new female hard-boiled detectives add to the genre?. Why isn't Philo Vance a household name?, How are American detectives different from their British counterparts?, Why aren't there American female spy characters? Is there room for lawyers other than Perry Mason? In addition to 150 photographs, classic book covers, pulp art and film stills, The American Detective features a gumshoe timeline, chronicling all the major events that have affected the American detective; entertaining trivia, such as behind-the-scenes looks at famous authors at work and the origins of such terms as "sleuth" and "private eye"; special articles, on such subjects as the pulps (both magazine and electronic ), humor and the hard-boiled detective, and the "Ten Silliest Cop Shows in Television History"; and a complete listing of the Mystery Writers of America's Edgar Allan Poe Award winners. Out Of Print. Condition: Fine Minus. Edge wear, bumped corner and a one inch tear at the top front.