The Simple Art of Murder

The Simple Art of Murder (1950) collects twelve of Chandler's best short stories alongside his famous critical essay of the same name, in which he defends the hard-boiled school and declares that 'down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean.' The stories range from early pulp work to polished later tales, showcasing the full range of Chandler's craft before and during the Marlowe years.