Letter from Dana Gioia Chairman Some people were surprised when The Maltese Falcon, a detective novel, appeared on The Big Read list. Yes, it is a detective novel - one of the best ever written. It’s also a brilliant literary work, as well as a thriller, a love story, and a dark, dry comedy. The only criticism I would offer Hammett’s private-eye classic is that it is so much fun to read, it might be hard the first time through to realize how deeply observed and morally serious it is. The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) designed to revitalize the role of literary reading in American popular culture. Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America, a 2004 NEA report, identified a critical decline in reading for pleasure among American adults. The Big Read aims to address this issue directly by providing citizens with the opportunity to read and discuss a single book within their communities. A great book combines enlightenment with enchantment. It awakens our imagination and enlarges our humanity. It can even offer harrowing insights that somehow console and comfort us. Whether you’re a regular reader already or a nonreader making up for lost time, thank you for joining The Big Read. Dana Gioia The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. THE BIG READ Program Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa has mandated that education be a top priority in Los Angeles, and has dedicated the resources of his office to improving educational opportunities. The Big Read Program in Los Angeles, produced by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA), will support the Mayor’s commitment to education, and directly benefit thousands of residents in the numerous and diverse neighborhoods throughout the City. The Big Read is designed to combat a declining literacy rate, inspire young people and their families, and celebrate the great literary and historical significance of Los Angeles. The Big Read Program in Los Angeles will feature a series of activities throughout the City designed for all ages. Reading groups, tours, lectures, and film screenings will be held weekly throughout November. We welcome you to read our book, participate in our activities, and interact with your neighbors as we celebrate the joy of reading. |
Los Angeles Big Read Partners The Big Read Program in Los Angeles is produced by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and is made possible through partnerships with the following organizations: The National Endowment for the Arts The Maltese Falcon The Big Read Program in Los Angeles celebrates the novel The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett. Published in 1930, The Maltese Falcon set the standard by which all subsequent detective fiction would be judged. Recognized as the father of the“Noir” genre, Dashiell Hammett’s clean prose, sharp ear for dialogue, and complex plots brought a new energy to popular fiction that went on to define the genre in literature, film, radio, and television. Dashiell Hammett’s influence on Los Angeles’ literary and cinematic landscape is undeniable. His novels have influenced generations of Los Angeles writers who have helped define the image of our City in popular culture, including Raymond Chandler (The Big Sleep, The Long Goodbye), James M. Cain (Double Indemnity, The Postman Always Rings Twice), James Ellroy (L.A. Confidential), Walter Mosley (Devil in a Blue Dress), Denise Hamilton (The Last Embrace), and Michael Connelly (Concrete Blonde). In Hollywood, filmmakers have adapted all of Hammett’s novels at least once. Film Noir, a term for the highly stylized crime dramas first made popular in the 1940s can be traced back to the 1941 film version of The Maltese Falcon, starring Humphrey Bogart and directed by John Huston. As a resident of, and screenwriter in Hollywood, Hammett worked with MGM, Warner Bros., and Paramount studios; received an academy award nomination; and introduced a style to film that continues to be popular with audiences today. |
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