Raymond Chandler

Full Name: Raymond Thornton Chandler

Date of Birth: 23 July 1888

Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois, USA

Date of Death: 26 March 1959

Place of Death: San Diego, California, USA

Biography

Family emigrated to England when he was twelve. Educated at Dulwich College and studied in France and Germany. Returned to London in 1907 and reluctantly joined the Civil Service, but left to work as a newspaper reporter, essayist and writer of verse.

In 1912, he went to America and eventually settled in California. In First World War he served in the Canadian Army. Became a successful top executive for an oil company. Married Cissy Pascal in 1924. Chandler succumbed to alcohol and was fired from his job. He turned back to writing in the 1930s, specifically short stories for pulp magazines like 'Black Mask'.

In 1939, his first novel, 'The Big Sleep' featuring Philip Marlowe, was published and became an instant success. Apart from the Marlowe stories, he wrote screenplays for films like 'Double Indemnity' and 'Blue Dahlia'.

After suffering increasingly from depression and general ill health, he died in California in 1959.

Books Written

• 1939 The Big Sleep - Based on the short stories "Killer in the Rain" (1935) and "The Curtain" (1936)
• 1940 Farewell, My Lovely -  Based on the short stories "The Man Who Liked Dogs" (1936), "Try The Girl" (1937) and "Mandarin's Jade" (1937)
• 1942 The High Window - Based on the short stories "Bay City Blues" (1938) and "The Lady In The Lake" (1939)
• 1943 The Lady in the Lake - Based on the short stories "Bay City Blues" (1938), "The Lady In The Lake" (1939), "No Crime In The Mountains" (1941)
• 1949 The Little Sister - Scenes based on the short story "Bay City Blues" (1938)
• 1953 The Long Goodbye
• 1958 Playback - Based on an unproduced screenplay
• 1989 Poodle Springs - completed by Robert B. Parker