Chandler (Raymond) Six Typed Letters, three signed, to Hamish "Jamie" Hamilton, 17pp., 6520 Drexel Avenue, LA, and 6005 Camino de la Costa, La Jolla, California, 30th May 1946 - 10th November 1950, discussing various authors including J. B. Priestley, Eugene O'Neill "Throughout his play THE ICEMAN COMETH Eugene O'Neill used 'the big sleep' as a synonym for death. He used it, so far as one can judge from the context, as a matter of course, apparently in the belief that it was an accepted underworld expression. If so, I'd like to see whence it comes, because I invented the expression...", Somerset Maugham "His plots are cool and deadly and his timing is absolutely flawless", Edmund Wilson "the unshy pornographer", Erle Gardner and others; discussing his hopes the adaptation of The Big Sleep "you will realise what can be done with this sort of story by a director with the gift of atmosphere and the requisite touch of hidden sadism", praising Bogart and discussing changes made to the film and an unshot scene; his own skills as a writer "As a mystery writer, I think I am a bit of an anomaly, since most mystery writers of the American school are only semi-literate; and I am not only literate but intellectual" and discussions of Hollywood, critics and writing projects present, future and past, some folds, a few notes or marking in ink and pencil by Hamilton, punch holes to head.

⁂ A superb group of letters by Chandler, witty, opinionated and at the peak of his fame. Hamilton was Chandler's London publisher and two frequently corresponded.