The Continental Op

I’ve been on a crime novel kickoff recently and the latest is one of the Dashiell Hammett books I haven’t read The Continental Op . It is a collection of stories-some interlocking about the detective agency unnamed continental operative. There’s a very good introduction written by Steve Marcus who makes some good observations about Hammett. For example, he summarizes Hammett’s philosophy that “..how despite everything we have learned and everything we know, men will persist in behaving and trying to behave sanely, rationally, sensibly and responsibly.” He also points out that Hammett runs on a principal that is direct opposite of that postulated by Erik Erikson as the fundamental and enabling condition for human existence is that society and social relations are dominated by the principle of basic mistrust. He continues stating that Hammett’s depiction of modern society shows that violence is the decisive means along with fraud, deceit, treachery, betrayal, and general endemic unscrupulousness. This is clearly evident in works like the engaging Red Harvest. I must say that aside from his dark world view I enjoyed his prose style especially the dialogue. All in all very entertaining collection of stories.