James M. Cain, hardboiled writer most famous for THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE, MILDRED PIERCE, and DOUBLE INDEMNITY, never thought of himself as a gifted writer of long fiction. He thought short works were his forte. Here, selected from pieces written largely (but not exclusively) during the early days of his career, are several examples of just how fine a short fiction writer he was. The earliest works are extremely brief, often just sketches or dramatic essays. As his confidence as a writer increases, though, (coincidental with his transplantation from East Coaster to West Coaster), Cain really comes into his own. Crime, violence, and the hardbitten life of drifters and grifters are wonderfully revealed and explored in these pieces written with the brassy ring of truth. For the most part, these are wonderful pieces of writing. ( )

Although James M. Cain is largely remembered for his novels of the 1930s and 40s, he started his writing career with short stories. The present work includes most of his published short stories in addition to his novelette, "The Embezzler".

This volume includes some real gems, including "The Baby in the Ice Box" itself, a work which (like "Postman...") expresses Cain's lifelong interest in jungle cats (sneak preview: the baby in the story survives, which is more than can be said of another character). Another is "The Birthday Party", a touchingly sad coming - of - age story that shows how far beyond the noir genre Cain's talents extended. Various other worthy stories are included, although some are mainly of historical interest.

Of particular value to fans of Cain's work are the biographical / historical essays included herein; they were written by Roy Hoopes, who edited this volume and who published a full biography of Cain in 1982. I have learned a lot about Cain from this work, and gained a deeper appreciation for his career as a writer. ( )

$75.