Books

San Francisco: The Arion Press. Fine. 1983. First Edition Thus. Hardcover. (quarter-bound black leather over blue-gray cloth-covered boards, with the Falcon in black leather (with silver trim and red eye) on both front and rear covers; silver lettering on spine; in slipcase, with no dust jacket, as issued) [a beautiful copy, with both book and slipcase utterly unblemished]. (B&W photographs, endpaper maps) The best edition of Hammett's hard-boiled classic, issued in a printing of 400 copies, each signed on the limitation page by the director of the Arion Press (whose 11th book this was), Andrew Hoyem. Beautifully printed and bound, with the red-eyed Black Bird in leather on both covers, the book is illustrated throughout with black-and-white photographs (44 in all, a mixture of vintage and contemporary shots) of the many San Francisco locations that were the setting for the novel, plus a tipped-in frontispiece portrait photo of Hammett and a double fold-out panoramic…

"The Maltese Falcon" by Dashiell Hammett is a seminal work in the genre of hard-boiled detective fiction. The novel follows the story of Sam Spade, a private detective in San Francisco, as he gets entangled in a complex web of mystery and intrigue. The plot kicks off when a beautiful woman named Miss Wonderly hires Spade and his partner, Miles Archer, for what seems like a simple surveillance job. However, Archer ends up murdered while tailing a suspect, launching Spade into a dangerous investigation that revolves around a legendary and valuable statuette of a falcon. As Spade delves deeper into the case, he encounters a cast of colorful and dubious characters, including the enigmatic Miss Wonderly (later revealed as Brigid O'Shaughnessy), the effeminate Joel Cairo, and the intimidating Casper Gutman. Each character has their own motives and connections to the elusive falcon, a priceless treasure that many desire. Betrayals, double-crosses, and shifting allegiances heighten the suspense as Spade navigates the treacherous landscape of deceit and greed. His ethical code and sharp wit guide him through the labyrinth of conflicting interests, all while maintaining a detached and stoic demeanor. Throughout the investigation, Spade remains emotionally detached and plays various sides against each other to uncover the truth. He ultimately exposes the layers of deception and reveals the falcon's true identity—a mere decoy. "The Maltese Falcon" is not merely a detective story but a compelling exploration of human nature, duplicity, and the allure of wealth. Hammett's writing style, characterized by terse prose and gritty realism, sets the tone for the hard-boiled detective genre. The novel's intricate plot, morally ambiguous characters, and Spade's unwavering determination make it a timeless classic, revered for its contribution to crime fiction and its enduring influence on subsequent detective novels and films.

The true first edition can be identified by the 1930 date on the title page and the absence of the statement 'This is a Borzoi book,' which was included in later editions.