I found a wonderful article written by Caleb Pirtle III on Venture Galleries. It’s about Raymond Chandler and if you love words or are a Chandler admirer like me, you will find unreserved joy in reading this piece. It deals with rejection and strong opinions.

Chandler had a style all his own. I love his voice. The article below provides ample evidence of his mastery. I especially loved this part where he wrote a response to the publisher after one of his stories was heavily edited:

“By the way, would you convey my compliments to the purist who reads your proofs and tell him or her that I write in a sort of broken-down patois which is something like the way a Swiss waiter talks, and that when I split an infinitive, God damn it, I split it so it will stay split, and when I interrupt the velvety smoothness of my more or less literate syntax with a few sudden words of barroom vernacular, this is done with the eyes wide open and the mind relaxed but attentive. The method may not be perfect, but it is all I have.”

Beautifully said and had me in stitches…

You can read the rest here: The day Raymond Chandler struck back. – Venture Galleries.

Tom Adams created the cover design above and if you click on the image the link will take you to his website where you’ll find a gallery showcasing some of his work. He is most famous for his Agatha Christie paperback cover designs in the 1970s. And of course, he designed several covers for Raymond Chandler. (Source)

Enjoy!