Reviews for A Thief of Peirce: The Letters of Kenneth Laine Ketner and Walker Percy

The average rating for A Thief of Peirce: The Letters of Kenneth Laine Ketner and Walker Percy based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2011-05-29 00:00:00 Gregory Murphy This was a wonderful collection of writing, mostly personal letters. Chandler had such a dry wit and was a self-described intellectual snob. He could also be incredibly humble and self-effacing. One can see which parts of him shine through in Marlowe. I loved reading his thoughts on language, American and British culture, the writing process, the publishing business, and his contemporaries--namely Hammet and Cain. The end of the book is kind of sad; Chandler's wife of 30 years had a protracted illness and death, he attempts suicide. Although he seemed lost and terribly lonely late in life, you could see a glimmer of inspiration on the thought of writing another Marlowe novel in the last letters before his death. I'd recommend this to Chandler devotees, fans of hardboiled fiction--heck, fans of the English language.

Review # 2 was written on 2019-06-21 00:00:00 Michael Maresch Chandler is antisocial, a curmudgeon, powerful, sensitive, entertaining, and these personality traits are abundent in his letters, nonfiction, and personal relationships. What stood out most to me is Chandler's intelligence and high integrity when he engaged with and stood up to studios, publishers, writers, and everyone else. These high standards, I believe, sometimes led to his loneliness, rootlessness, and drinking. I loved that he and I are on the same page concerning writing and writers, particularly his respect for Orwell, Somerset Maugham, Fitzgerald, and Dashiell Hammett. Although, Chandler has plenty of criticism for everyone. This is an insightful and entertaining delve into a brilliant writer's mind.