On January 10, 1961 Dashiell Hammett, one of finest writers of mystery novels our country has produced died. A playwright, screenwriter and political activist, Hammett joined the CPUSA in the 1930s.
The New York Times called him “the dean of the ‘hard-boiled’ school of detective fiction.”He served as chairman of the Civil Rights Congress and was imprisoned for his political views and refusing to name names during the McCarthy period. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Hammet wrote several novels and dozens of short stories.
Among his best known works were the Maltese Falcon and the Thin Man.
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