What's a good biography of Raymond Chandler?

Thank you. I have the Library of America volume edited by MacShane; a
beautiful book, by the way. I'll get the others at the library, as you say.
MacShane I'm afraid tried to "sanitize" the text or his notes
somewhat--which I didn't care for, he shouldn't try to alter Chandler's
intentions. The dark underbelly of LA in the 1940s was Chandler's world. To
make it politically correct for our time is just wrong. Did Chandler write
an autobiography, I wonder, or has there been a compilation of his letters,
or something like that? Glad to find another Chandler fan here.
"Ayo Onatade" <ayoonatade.RemoveThis@breathe.com> wrote in message
news:4260bd03$1_2@mk-nntp-1.news.uk.worldonline.com...
 > This is a bit difficult as it is very subjective. As far as I am aware 4
 > books come to mind -
 >
 > The Life of Raymond Chandler by Frank MacShane (1976)
 > Raymond Chandler: A Descriptive Bibliography by Matthew J. Bruccoli
 > (1979);
 > Raymond Chandler: A Biography by Tom Hiney (1997)
 > Raymond Chandler by J. Speir (1981)
 >
 > I only have a copy of the MacShane, but I think that most people tend to
 > prefer the Tom Hiney. A good idea would be to either borrow all of them
 > from the library if you can and have a look through them before you make a
 > decision as to which one you would want to buy.
 >
 > Ayo
 >
 > George Kincaid wrote:
  >> I'm a fan, but there's a lot of material on him out there. Anybody have
  >> any suggestions? Thanks<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: What's a good biography of Raymond Chandler? 

I think there has been a compilation of his letters try - Raymond
Chandler Speaking, ed. by Dorothy Gardiner and Katherine Sorley Walker
(1962) and Selected Letters of Raymond Chandler, ed. by Frank MacShane

Ayo

George Kincaid wrote:
 > Thank you. I have the Library of America volume edited by MacShane; a
 > beautiful book, by the way. I'll get the others at the library, as you say.
 > MacShane I'm afraid tried to "sanitize" the text or his notes
 > somewhat--which I didn't care for, he shouldn't try to alter Chandler's
 > intentions. The dark underbelly of LA in the 1940s was Chandler's world. To
 > make it politically correct for our time is just wrong. Did Chandler write
 > an autobiography, I wonder, or has there been a compilation of his letters,
 > or something like that? Glad to find another Chandler fan here.
 > "Ayo Onatade" <ayoonatade.RemoveThis@breathe.com> wrote in message
 > news:4260bd03$1_2@mk-nntp-1.news.uk.worldonline.com...
 >
  >>This is a bit difficult as it is very subjective. As far as I am aware 4
  >>books come to mind -
  >>
  >>The Life of Raymond Chandler by Frank MacShane (1976)
  >>Raymond Chandler: A Descriptive Bibliography by Matthew J. Bruccoli
  >>(1979);
  >>Raymond Chandler: A Biography by Tom Hiney (1997)
  >>Raymond Chandler by J. Speir (1981)
  >>
  >>I only have a copy of the MacShane, but I think that most people tend to
  >>prefer the Tom Hiney. A good idea would be to either borrow all of them
  >>from the library if you can and have a look through them before you make a
  >>decision as to which one you would want to buy.
  >>
  >>Ayo
  >>
  >>George Kincaid wrote:
  >>
   >>>I'm a fan, but there's a lot of material on him out there. Anybody have
   >>>any suggestions? Thanks
 >
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: What's a good biography of Raymond Chandler? 

Thank you. Good to know such a knowledgeable Chandler fan. GK
"Ayo Onatade" <ayoonatade DeleteThis @breathe.com> wrote in message
news:4261d979_3@mk-nntp-1.news.uk.worldonline.com...
 >I think there has been a compilation of his letters try - Raymond Chandler
 >Speaking, ed. by Dorothy Gardiner and Katherine Sorley Walker (1962) and
 >Selected Letters of Raymond Chandler, ed. by Frank MacShane
 >
 > Ayo
 >
 > George Kincaid wrote:
  >> Thank you. I have the Library of America volume edited by MacShane; a
  >> beautiful book, by the way. I'll get the others at the library, as you
  >> say. MacShane I'm afraid tried to "sanitize" the text or his notes
  >> somewhat--which I didn't care for, he shouldn't try to alter Chandler's
  >> intentions. The dark underbelly of LA in the 1940s was Chandler's world.
  >> To make it politically correct for our time is just wrong. Did Chandler
  >> write an autobiography, I wonder, or has there been a compilation of his
  >> letters, or something like that? Glad to find another Chandler fan here.
  >> "Ayo Onatade" <ayoonatade DeleteThis @breathe.com> wrote in message
  >> news:4260bd03$1_2@mk-nntp-1.news.uk.worldonline.com...
  >>
   >>>This is a bit difficult as it is very subjective. As far as I am aware 4
   >>>books come to mind -
   >>>
   >>>The Life of Raymond Chandler by Frank MacShane (1976)
   >>>Raymond Chandler: A Descriptive Bibliography by Matthew J. Bruccoli
   >>>(1979);
   >>>Raymond Chandler: A Biography by Tom Hiney (1997)
   >>>Raymond Chandler by J. Speir (1981)
   >>>
   >>>I only have a copy of the MacShane, but I think that most people tend to
   >>>prefer the Tom Hiney. A good idea would be to either borrow all of them
   >>>from the library if you can and have a look through them before you make
   >>>a decision as to which one you would want to buy.
   >>>
   >>>Ayo
   >>>
   >>>George Kincaid wrote:
   >>>
   >>>>I'm a fan, but there's a lot of material on him out there. Anybody have
   >>>>any suggestions? Thanks
  >>
  >><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: What's a good biography of Raymond Chandler? 

By the way, do you have a particular favorite novel of Chandler's?
"George Kincaid" <george.kincaid.TakeThisOut@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:Mmd7e.72209$cg1.20831@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
 > I'm a fan, but there's a lot of material on him out there. Anybody have
 > any suggestions? Thanks
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: What's a good biography of Raymond Chandler? 

Apart from the fact that Chandler was my introduction to "noir" I had to
give a presentation on an author when I was doing my Masters degree a
couple of years ago. I chose Chandler because he has always fascinated
me and it was a brilliant excuse to re-read all his stuff!

Ayo

George Kincaid wrote:
 > Thank you. Good to know such a knowledgeable Chandler fan. GK
 > "Ayo Onatade" <ayoonatade RemoveThis @breathe.com> wrote in message
 > news:4261d979_3@mk-nntp-1.news.uk.worldonline.com...
 >
  >>I think there has been a compilation of his letters try - Raymond Chandler
  >>Speaking, ed. by Dorothy Gardiner and Katherine Sorley Walker (1962) and
  >>Selected Letters of Raymond Chandler, ed. by Frank MacShane
  >>
  >>Ayo
  >>
  >>George Kincaid wrote:
  >>
   >>>Thank you. I have the Library of America volume edited by MacShane; a
   >>>beautiful book, by the way. I'll get the others at the library, as you
   >>>say. MacShane I'm afraid tried to "sanitize" the text or his notes
   >>>somewhat--which I didn't care for, he shouldn't try to alter Chandler's
   >>>intentions. The dark underbelly of LA in the 1940s was Chandler's world.
   >>>To make it politically correct for our time is just wrong. Did Chandler
   >>>write an autobiography, I wonder, or has there been a compilation of his
   >>>letters, or something like that? Glad to find another Chandler fan here.
   >>>"Ayo Onatade" <ayoonatade RemoveThis @breathe.com> wrote in message
   >>>news:4260bd03$1_2@mk-nntp-1.news.uk.worldonline.com...
   >>>
   >>>
   >>>>This is a bit difficult as it is very subjective. As far as I am aware 4
   >>>>books come to mind -
   >>>>
   >>>>The Life of Raymond Chandler by Frank MacShane (1976)
   >>>>Raymond Chandler: A Descriptive Bibliography by Matthew J. Bruccoli
   >>>>(1979);
   >>>>Raymond Chandler: A Biography by Tom Hiney (1997)
   >>>>Raymond Chandler by J. Speir (1981)
   >>>>
   >>>>I only have a copy of the MacShane, but I think that most people tend to
   >>>>prefer the Tom Hiney. A good idea would be to either borrow all of them
   >>>
   >>>>from the library if you can and have a look through them before you make
   >>>
   >>>>a decision as to which one you would want to buy.
   >>>>
   >>>>Ayo
   >>>>
   >>>>George Kincaid wrote:
   >>>>
   >>>>
   >>>>>I'm a fan, but there's a lot of material on him out there. Anybody have
   >>>>>any suggestions? Thanks
   >>>
   >>>
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: What's a good biography of Raymond Chandler? 

I Think my favourite is "The Big Sleep", but "The Long Goodbye" runs a
very close second. A couple of years ago I managed to get my hands on
Raymond Chandler's Marlowe- the graphic novel, which included Goldfish,
Trouble is my Business and The Pencil. Really cool drawings.

Ayo

George Kincaid wrote:
 > By the way, do you have a particular favorite novel of Chandler's?
 > "George Kincaid" <george.kincaid DeleteThis @worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
 > news:Mmd7e.72209$cg1.20831@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
 >
  >>I'm a fan, but there's a lot of material on him out there. Anybody have
  >>any suggestions? Thanks
  >>
 >
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: What's a good biography of Raymond Chandler? 

"George Kincaid" <george.kincaid.TakeThisOut@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:Mmd7e.72209$cg1.20831@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> I'm a fan, but there's a lot of material on him out there. Anybody have
> any suggestions? Thanks

Hi George,

It is not a Biography but I've been reading "The Raymond Chandler Papers
Selected Letters and Non-Fiction 1909-1959" Edited by Tom Hiney and Frank
McShane. Hiney says that no-one could give a better insight into Raymond
Chandler than Raymond Chandler himself, I do not know if that is true but
some of his thoughts in his letters and non-fiction articles are worthy of
much wider public access including one or two gems:

In a letter from September 1958 Chandler answered questions from Luther
Nichols books editor of the San Francisco Examiner.

Regarding the Future of Mystery Writing: Chandler said “A decline of the
hardboiled story on the basis of Gresham’s law. They are too numerous, too
violent, and too sexy in too blatant a way. Not one in fifty is written with
any sense of style or economy. They are supposed to be what the reader
wants. Good writers write what they want and make the reader like it. The
hard-hitting story will not die completely but it will have to become more
civilized. The mystery story in some form will never die in the foreseeable
future.”

I love the idea that "Good writers write what they want and make the reader
like it". I'd never heard of Gresham's law and looked it up, it is stated
as: "Bad money drives good money out of circulation". If you read about
Gresham's law, what Chandler says doesn't make any sense at all because it
is based on people keeping the good money and passing on the damaged
scratched kind, but I know what he means and his using this gives an insight
into his character.
 >> Stay informed about: What's a good biography of Raymond Chandler?