Customer Reviews

The Big Sleep & Farewell, My Lovely

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Seeing as how "The Big Sleep" and "Farewell, My Lovely" are the first two Philip Marlowe detective novels that Raymond Chandler wrote (published in 1939 and 1940, respectively), this is a grand place for a Chandler novice to begin pursuing the morally decrepit alleys and boulevards of the rich and not-so-rich in Los Angeles.

One thing you should note is that Chandler held the conventional detective stories (think: Agatha Christie) in disdain. Ergo, any attempt of mine to barf back the plots to you is a waste of time. They are so complex that you often forget exactly what happened shortly after you finish reading the books themselves...which doesn't detract from their quality whatsoever mind you. It's been told often enough that after their publication, Chandler often didn't even know what was going on in his own novels!

Suffice to say that both books concern murder among the wealthy elites in L.A. during Chandler's life--a time when the city was a lot smaller than its present size, and more hostile to outsiders--particularly to people of color. "The Big Sleep" concerns a disappearance and a reclusive millionaire and his two daughters (one is a mentally deranged nymphomaniac; the other is a bit more sensible, but no less shady) and the lengths he'll go to protect them. While this isn't the best Marlowe novel, this is probably the best place to start. Plus, it got made into a pretty good movie starring Bogie and Bacall.

"Farewell, My Lovely" is perhaps the most politically incorrect of the Marlowe books. It starts off with a murder at a bar in South Central L.A. and extends its tentacles into jewel heists and gambling rings where it is difficult to ascertain exactly who is doing what to whom. In Chandler's L.A., nothing is what it seems.

The story itself is engrossing, however, you must prepare yourself for Marlowe dropping the "N" word at least once, and his mockery of an American Indian for speaking in pidgeon English. Remember that this was 1940 and was 25 years before the Watts riots began to put an end to the white-dominated old boys network that used to rule L.A. That in itself makes it an interesting look at the mentality of the powers at be (the wealthy, the LAPD) and see how much has changed since Chandler's day...and how much hasn't.

My personal favorite of Chandler's books is "The Long Goodbye"--the second-to-last Marlowe novel that was published in 1954. I would rank both of these books below that one, but "Farewell, My Lovely" is a close second, while "The Big Sleep" is an auspicious debut for the hard-boiled, cynical, yet romantic ...

For those who are willing to take more than a passive interest in the works of Raymond Chandler, this two-book set is an excellent place to start. Furthermore, for those who are merely casual Chandler fans, this set is great because these two books are among his best (and it looks nice on your bookshelf too!)

I've always believed that Chandler was one of the great prose stylists of the 20th century. Read these two novels and try to disagree with me.

Raymond Chandler's creation, Philip Marlowe, is a character that has influenced modern fiction greatly. Without Marlowe the archetype of "private dick" would not carry the cultural weight that it does today. It is true that the plot lines of many Chandler works are contorted to the point of no return, but it is not the plot that counts. The reason why these books are so successful is because we the reader become enthralled by Marlowe and his immediate knowledge of all things that surround him. Because Chandler made Marlowe such a carefully wrought character, Farewell, My Lovely becomes an examination of the human character rather than a list of dastardly deeds committed by crooks without depth. Every scene is an interaction between fully developed characters. He defines himself in relation to the people and actions that whirl in and out of his life. Marlowe offers us plenty of insight into his opinion of his relations. Because he is such an endearing person we want to believe every word he says. He is a product of the LA scene where he works. We the reader build confidence in our hero because he is capable of sizing up any situation immediately. Slowly we learn to trust Marloweï¿s way of navigating the underbelly of LA. I truly enjoyed Farewell, My Lovely because Chandler forces through Marlowe an undeniable wit and charm. He will make you laugh and draw you into his brand of thinking about other characters. I wonder sometimes when reading Chandler about how Marlowe would size me up. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about interesting characters and loves a wry wit and dark charm.

Glad to see Raymond Chandler in a new edition, he's one of the best. His writing crackles. It's witty and poetic, a joy to read and re-read. Nothing like him has come out in the last forty years, except a part-spoof, part-serious leap into the 'hardboiled' genre called A Manual Of Etiquette For Ladies Crossing Canada By Train, handsome detective and gorgeous perp, brilliant language, on a transcontinental Canadian train, downing drinks in the club car. Hope more young writers take their lessons from Chandler. Marlowe is one of the great 20th century creations.

Raymond Chandler was not just a mystery writer, but a keen observer of the human condition. In this edition, two of his Philip Marlowe novels are collected in one volume. These stories are positively ALIVE with atmosphere and characterization. Dont miss these novels, as a great introduction to Chandler's work. You can feel the emotions boiling under ther surface of these characters, especially Marlowe, an honorable man in an increasingly dishonorable world. Not to be missed!

Chandler provides an unforgetable picture of L.A. and his private eye, Phillip Marlowe. The "Big Sleep" (his first novel) has an intricate plot, perhaps with loose ends; like real life, not like a nice neat English murder mystery. The star of the story is the narrative, not the plot. Chandler's L.A. is littered with tough cops, pornography, drugs, gambling and sex. The only "hero" is Phillip Marlowe, who is following his own code of behavior-not always society's.

You don't have to love Los Angeles in its golden era of the 40's and 50's, but it sure helps as Chandler barrels his way through non-stop plots filled with twists and turns that make Mulholland Drive look like a country lane through old Pasadena. None of the films ever equalled the vibrancy of the printed word from this mystery master's old Remington. The tough cops on Chandler's Los Angeles Police force make wimps out of today's version of the same. Then there's the women -- all character and rarely moral -- but each will fascinate. These are the landmark works of the author and the genre. Read 'em and wish for a time machine!
Phill Catheral

These are the "hard boiled" genre of detective fiction at its very best.
Smart, sharp writing with convoluted plots, these are the 2 books that
led to the success of a dozen different authors.