Red Harvest
In Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett, the Continental Op, an unnamed detective from the Continental Detective Agency, investigates the murder of newspaper publisher Donald Wilsson in the corrupt mining town of Personville, nicknamed "Poisonville". As he delves deeper, he uncovers a web of power struggles and organized crime, pitting four corrupt figures against one another, leading to violent confrontations and significant town upheaval. Contains references to intense violence, murder, and corruption.
Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett is praised for its gritty, fast-paced narrative and hard-hitting prose, which have cemented its status as a cornerstone of the noir genre. Readers appreciate the complex plot and memorable characters. However, some find the relentless violence and morally ambiguous protagonist off-putting. Overall, it's a compelling, influential read in crime fiction.
Readers who enjoy gritty, fast-paced crime stories with complex characters and moral ambiguity will find Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett captivating. Fans of Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep or James M. Cain's The Postman Always Rings Twice will appreciate the novel's hard-boiled prose and relentless action.
Add this title to our requested Study Guides list!
Add this title to our requested Study Guides list!
Add this title to our requested Study Guides list!
A SuperSummary Plot Summary provides a quick, full synopsis of a text.
A SuperSummary Study Guide — a modern alternative to Sparknotes & CliffsNotes — provides so much more, including chapter-by-chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and important quotes.
See the difference for yourself. Check out this sample Study Guide: