The Glass Key
Encyclopedia
The Glass Key is a novel by Dashiell Hammett
, said to be his favorite among his works. It was first published in 1931, and tells the story of gambler and racketeer Ned Beaumont, whose devotion to crooked political boss
Paul Madvig leads him to investigate the murder of a local senator's son as a potential gang war brews. Hammett dedicated the novel to onetime lover Nell Martin
.
There were two film adaptations (1935
and 1942
) of the novel (plus one more in USSR/Estonia
in 1985). The book was also a major influence on the Coen brothers
film Miller's Crossing
, a film about a gambler who is right hand man to a corrupt political boss and their involvement in a brewing gang war. A radio adaptation starring Orson Welles
aired on March 10, 1939 as part of his Campbell Playhouse
program.
The Glass Key award
(Swedish
: Glasnyckeln) is named after the novel and is presented annually for the best crime novel by a Scandinavia
n author.
Dashiell Hammett
Samuel Dashiell Hammett was an American author of hard-boiled detective novels and short stories, and political activist. Among the enduring characters he created are Sam Spade , Nick and Nora Charles , and the Continental Op .In addition to the significant influence his novels and stories had on...
, said to be his favorite among his works. It was first published in 1931, and tells the story of gambler and racketeer Ned Beaumont, whose devotion to crooked political boss
Political boss
A boss, in politics, is a person who wields the power over a particular political region or constituency. Bosses may dictate voting patterns, control appointments, and wield considerable influence in other political processes. They do not necessarily hold public office themselves...
Paul Madvig leads him to investigate the murder of a local senator's son as a potential gang war brews. Hammett dedicated the novel to onetime lover Nell Martin
Nell Martin
Nell Martin was an American author from Illinois specializing in light-hearted mysteries and short stories. She was at one time the girlfriend of writer Dashiell Hammett...
.
There were two film adaptations (1935
The Glass Key (1935 film)
-Cast:*George Raft as Ed Beaumont*Edward Arnold as Paul Madvig*Claire Dodd as Janet Henry*Guinn Williams as Jeff*Ray Milland as Taylor Henry-External links:...
and 1942
The Glass Key (1942 film)
The Glass Key is a 1942 film noir, directed by Stuart Heisler and based on the novel of the same name by Dashiell Hammett. The story had previously been adapted for film in 1935.-Plot:...
) of the novel (plus one more in USSR/Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
in 1985). The book was also a major influence on the Coen brothers
Coen Brothers
Joel David Coen and Ethan Jesse Coen known together professionally as the Coen brothers, are American filmmakers...
film Miller's Crossing
Miller's Crossing
Miller's Crossing is a 1990 American gangster film by the Coen brothers and starring Gabriel Byrne, Albert Finney, Marcia Gay Harden, Jon Polito and John Turturro...
, a film about a gambler who is right hand man to a corrupt political boss and their involvement in a brewing gang war. A radio adaptation starring Orson Welles
Orson Welles
George Orson Welles , best known as Orson Welles, was an American film director, actor, theatre director, screenwriter, and producer, who worked extensively in film, theatre, television and radio...
aired on March 10, 1939 as part of his Campbell Playhouse
The Campbell Playhouse
The Campbell Playhouse was a CBS radio drama series directed by and starring Orson Welles. Produced by John Houseman, it was a sponsored continuation of the Mercury Theatre on the Air...
program.
The Glass Key award
Glass key award
The Glass Key award is a literature award given annually to a crime novel by an author from the Nordic countries.The award, named after the novel The Glass Key by American crime writer Dashiell Hammett, is a real glass key given every year by the members of the Crime Writers of Scandinavia to a...
(Swedish
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
: Glasnyckeln) is named after the novel and is presented annually for the best crime novel by a Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n author.
External links
- A summary and brief review is available from Case Western Reserve University's Department of English.