Hammett news page A short biography The Continental Op Blood Money Red Harvest The Dain Curse The Maltese Falcon: The novel The movie The 75th anniversary The Glass Key The Thin Man Woman in the Dark The short story collections The novels in one volume Books about Hammett Interview with Hammett authority George J. "Rhino" Thompson Chronology of Hammett's fiction Hammett's army days "Dashiell Hammett Place" Hammett's Post Street apartment: A photo tour (2005) Declared a landmark (2005) The Flood Building Links to other Hammett sites Contact Mike mikehumbert.com homepage This site is dedicated to all the people like Don Herron, Bill Arney, Richard Layman, William F. Nolan, Josephine Hammett Marshall, Julie M. Rivett, Steven Marcus, Joe Gores and others who have kept 1920s San Francisco in the here and now. Special thanks to Vince Emery for his many helpful contributions to this website. Entire website copyright 2003, 2004 & 2005 by Mike Humbert.

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WOMAN  IN THE  DARK

Image contributed by Stephen Parmelee

Is Woman in the Dark "Hammett's Lost Novel?"  No, not really.  But that’s how it was touted in 1988 when this 76-page story saw hardcover release, featuring a new introduction by Robert B. Parker.  This story was originally serialized in Liberty magazine in 1933, and had only been reprinted once in a 1951 softcover collection, edited by Ellery Queen. Admittedly, this is one of Hammett's weaker efforts.  The plot concerns Luise Fischer, who is desperate to escape an abusive relationship where she is a virtual prisoner.  She flees, and turns to a man named Brazil, an ex-con who has served time for killing a man.  Violence follows, and the two become fugitives. Fay Wray, King Kong’s ex, played the lead in the 1934 movie version, which only the most hardcore movie buff has even heard of.

SAMPLES OF VARIOUS EDITIONS

1) Knopf, 1988 (hardcover with dust jacket) 2) Headline, 1988 (paperback) 3) Vintage Crime, 1989 (trade paperback)