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About DonHerron.com
In 1977 Don Herron began leading The Dashiell Hammett Tour, now the longest-running literary tour in the nation. On this site you’ll find information on current walks — dates, where to meet, arranging tours by appointment — plus a hard-boiled blog with news, reviews of books and film, and a dash of noir.
The latest and greatest edition to self-guide you up and down the mean streets.
Willeford: The Book
Includes the first “Mr. Hunt” story, “Knives in the Dark.”
Tag Archives: “The Gutting of Couffignal”
Hammett: Another Top Tenner
Brian Leno let me know that an Op story cracked The Top Ten list for Library of America’s Story of the Week feature in 2021. “The Gutting of Couffignal.” One of the yarns in Hammett’s white-hot burst of Op action … Continue reading
Hammett: Couffignal
Like a bloodhound with his nose ever to the hardboiled pavement, a few days ago Brian Leno let me know that Library of America put up another Continental Op yarn by Hammett as the feature Story of the Week. I … Continue reading
Hammett: “One Hour”
Guest Blogger Terry Zobeck returns with another look into the edits made by Fred Dannay, and this time finds that the blue pencil smote lightly back in 1944! Plus he discovers yet another “pure text” Hammett story available in a modern … Continue reading
Posted in Dash, Lit
Tagged "One Hour", "The Gutting of Couffignal", Black Mask, EQMM, Frederic Dannay, Pulps, pure texts, Terry Zobeck, Tony Goodstone, Zobeck Series One
Death Lit: More on Parker
Terry Zobeck and I have been working behind the scenes to polish up some of his “pure texts” posts, in particular his first shot at it for “This King Business.” Looking it over again, Terry realized he’d left any changes … Continue reading
Posted in Dash, Lit, News
Tagged "Corkscrew", "The Gutting of Couffignal", Ace Atkins, Jesse Stone, Pulps, pure texts, Raymond Chandler, Robert B. Parker, Spenser, Terry Zobeck, Zobeck Series One
Hammett: “Magician” Trackdown
Lately M. P. Shiel has been in the air around here — I’ve been easing my way through the first two of three volumes of the biography of Shiel from the pen of Harold Billings (on the side reading upcoming … Continue reading
Posted in Dash, Lit, News
Tagged "The Gutting of Couffignal", Harold Billings, John D. Squires, John Gawsworth, M. P. Shiel, Terry Zobeck, Vince Emery
Rediscovered: Redonda!
I’m confident it was my pal Steve Eng who brought M. P. Shiel fully to my attention some thirty years ago. Like anyone else interested in horror and fantastic literature, I’d have come across the name already, courtesy at least … Continue reading
Posted in Dash, DMac, Frisco, Lit
Tagged "The Gutting of Couffignal", Arthur Machen, Black Mask, Book Collecting, Dylan Thomas, Hammett Tour Book, Henry Miller, John D. Squires, John Gawsworth, Lovecraft, M. P. Shiel, Redonda, Steve Eng