Cain, James M.: 1892 - 1977
The Postman Always Rings Twice, 1934 - Information About the Book
- General Information
- A married woman and a drifter fall in love, then plot to murder her husband.
- Information from Wikipedia
- Facts
- Awards: While the novel itself didn't receive any specific awards, its impact on crime fiction and its enduring popularity have led to its recognition as a significant work in the genre.Developed by Perplexity AI
- Characters by Chapter
- Character Analysis
- Gritty Realism and Naturalism
The novel exemplifies the gritty realism and naturalistic style that defined hardboiled crime fiction. It depicts the sordid underworld of vice and violence without moral judgment, presenting the characters as products of their environment and circumstances. The protagonists, Frank Chambers and Cora Papadakis, are driven by their base desires for sex and money, leading them down a path of adultery and murder.Fatalism and Inevitability
A key theme is the sense of fatalism and inevitability that permeates the story. From the opening line "They threw me off the hay truck about noon," the narrative conveys a feeling that the tragic events are preordained and inescapable. The characters' attempts to circumvent consequences only lead them deeper into a web of violence and despair, reflecting the deterministic philosophy of naturalism.Hardboiled Stylec
Cain's terse, unsentimental prose exemplifies the hardboiled style that became a hallmark of crime fiction. The novel's lean, unadorned language strips away romanticism and sentimentality, presenting the brutal realities of the criminal underworld in stark detail. This stylistic approach influenced many later crime writers and contributed to the development of film noir.In summary, "The Postman Always Rings Twice" stands as a landmark of 20th century American literature, encapsulating the gritty naturalism, fatalistic themes, and hardboiled style that defined an iconic era of crime fiction.
Developed by Perplexity AIThe novel received praise for its concise, fast-paced narrative and its vivid, raw depiction of human emotions and motivations. Critics have often noted Cain's ability to create intense suspense and his skillful use of dialogue.At the time of its publication, the novel was considered quite scandalous due to its explicit sexual content and brutal violence. This led to censorship in some regions, which only heightened its notoriety and appeal.
Despite initial shock and controversy, "The Postman Always Rings Twice" has endured as a significant work in American literature. It is studied in academic settings for its style, themes, and contribution to the noir genre.
Overall, the general perception of "The Postman Always Rings Twice" is that of a pioneering and influential work that remains a powerful and provocative read, appreciated both for its literary merits and its historical significance in the evolution of crime fiction.
Developed by ChatGPT AI- Reader Rating:
- Title
- Notes on the Title of James M. Cain's Novel "The Postman Always Rings TwiceIn "Murder on the Love Rack," the tenth chapter of CAIN: The Biography of James M. Cain (New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1982), Roy Hoopes details the history of Cain's famously enigmatic title for his first novel. According to Hoopes, Cain originally titled the work Bar-B-Que, but the publisher Alfred Knopf who was considering publishing the novel objected to the title and suggested For Love or Money instead. Cain hated Knopf's title because he found it generic, the sort of title that seems designed to market any sensationalistic book or movie. In return, Cain offered to call the book Black Puma or The Devil's Checkbook, but Knopf rejected these as well. Hoopes reports that finally, during a conversation with the playwright and screenwriter Vincent Lawrence--Cain's best friend in Hollywood, and the person to whom he ultimately dedicated this novel--came up with the title The Postman Always Rings Twice. The two writers had been commiserating over the agonies of waiting for the postman each day to find out the latest news on their submitted manuscripts. Lawrence said that he would sometimes go out into his backyard to avoid hearing the postman come but complained that the postman always rang twice to make sure he was heard. This anecdote put Cain in mind of an old English and Irish tradition according to which the postman always rang (or knocked) twice to announce himself. Cain pitched the title to his friend and Lawrence agreed that this metaphor was well suited as a description for the fate of Frank Chambers. Knopf, of course, accepted the title, and Hoopes notes that this title, with its rather obscure meaning, may in fact have contributed to the controversy that fueled the novel's huge success.J.C. Caruso
University of Washington - How the book got its title
- How the Book Got Its “Sort of Crazy” Name. Neely Tucker; October 21, 2019
- Articles
- The Banning of James M. Cain’s The Postman Always Rings Twice: "Because of the grittiness of the story, specifically the sex and violence, the book came under scrutiny immediately after its publication." Emily Martin
- Crime and Greed and Lust: "Cain has developed the hard-boiled manner as a perfect instrument of narration." Harold Strauss, The New York Times; February 18, 1934
- Awards: While the novel itself didn't receive any specific awards, its impact on crime fiction and its enduring popularity have led to its recognition as a significant work in the genre.