Cracking the Hard-boiled Detective

"This critical study analyzes the development of the hard-boiled detective novel from the 1920's to the present. It shows that while the genre has undergone many changes it still employs a recognizable form and thematic focus throughout. The book covers three main periods, the Early (1927-1955), the Transitional (1964-1977), and the Modern (1979-present)"--Provided by publisher.