Summary
Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon is widely credited with establishing hard-boiled detective fiction as a literary genre. Published in 1930, the novel introduced Sam Spade, a tough and morally ambiguous private eye who became the archetype for future fictional detectives. Set in San Francisco, the story revolves around the search for a priceless, jewel-encrusted statuette with a complex history. Beyond its intricate plot, the novel is distinguished by Hammett's spare, objective writing style. Based on the evidence of its consistent ranking on lists of the greatest crime novels of all time, The Maltese Falcon continues to set the standard for modern detective fiction.
Plot
Sam Spade, a private detective in San Francisco, is hired by a woman calling herself “Miss Wonderley” to find her sister, who has allegedly run off with a man named Floyd Thursby. Spade's partner, Miles Archer, takes on the surveillance job but is found murdered that night. Shortly after, Thursby is also killed, making Spade a prime suspect in both deaths.
The next day, “Miss Wonderley” reveals herself to be Brigid O'Shaughnessy, an adventuress involved in the search for a valuable black statuette known as the Maltese Falcon. Soon, other interested parties emerge, including the effeminate Joel Cairo and the corpulent Casper Gutman, accompanied by his vicious gunman, Wilmer Cook. O'Shaughnessy pleads for Spade's protection while divulging as little information as possible about her involvement.
As Spade delves deeper into the case, he learns about the Maltese Falcon's history from Gutman. The statuette, made of gold and jewels, was created by the Knights of Malta as a gift for the King of Spain but lost to pirates. With its value concealed by a coating of black enamel, the statuette has since passed through many hands. The search for the falcon leads to a series of double-crosses, lies, and murders, with Spade caught in the middle of the competing interests.
The story climaxes in Spade's apartment, where all the principal characters gather. The falcon is revealed to be a fake, and Gutman and Cairo depart for Istanbul to continue their search. Spade, left alone with O'Shaughnessy, forces her to confess her role in the murders, including that of his partner Archer. Despite her pleas of love, Spade turns her over to the police, choosing justice and his own code of ethics over any romantic entanglement.
Themes
The pursuit of wealth and greed
Deception and manipulation
Moral ambiguity in detective work
Trust and betrayal
The blurred lines between law and crime
The power of desire and temptation
The search for truth in amid a tangled web of lies
Setting
Set in the early 1930s, The Maltese Falcon unfolds in the gritty urban landscape of San Francisco. This bustling West Coast metropolis serves as the perfect backdrop for Hammett's hard-boiled detective story, with its foggy streets and shadowy corners providing an atmospheric setting for the novel's intrigue and deception.
While much of the action takes place within San Francisco itself, the story's scope extends far beyond the city limits. References to exotic locales like Constantinople and Hong Kong underscore the international nature of the pursuit for the coveted Maltese Falcon. These far-flung destinations add depth to the narrative, hinting at a complex web of connections spanning the globe.
Specific locations within San Francisco play crucial roles in the story. Sam Spade's office, his apartment, and various hotels become key settings for tense confrontations and revelations. The city's streets, where murders occur and characters engage in cat-and-mouse pursuits, are as much a part of the story as the characters themselves. This intimate portrayal of San Francisco, combined with allusions to distant lands, creates a rich tapestry that brings the world of The Maltese Falcon vividly to life.
Characters
Sam Spade: The protagonist. A hard-boiled private detective, Spade is cunning, unsentimental, and determined to solve the case on his own terms. He navigates a complex web of deceit while maintaining his own moral code. Despite his tough exterior, Spade shows moments of vulnerability and a keen sense of justice.
Brigid O'Shaughnessy: A beautiful and manipulative woman who hires Spade under false pretenses. She is deeply involved in the search for the Maltese Falcon and constantly lies to protect her interests. Brigid's charm and desperation make her a complex antagonist and potential love interest for Spade.
Joel Cairo: A perfumed, effeminate criminal also searching for the Maltese Falcon. Cairo is cunning and dangerous, willing to use violence to achieve his goals. He forms an uneasy alliance with other characters in pursuit of the valuable artifact.
Casper Gutman: A corpulent man obsessed with obtaining the Maltese Falcon. Gutman is wealthy, cultured, and ruthless in his pursuit of the statuette. His extensive knowledge of the falcon's history drives much of the plot forward.
Miles Archer: Spade's partner who is murdered early in the story. His death sets the main plot in motion and complicates Spade's relationships with other characters.
Effie Perine: Spade's loyal and efficient secretary. She assists Spade throughout the case and provides a moral counterpoint to the more cynical characters.
Wilmer Cook: Gutman's young, violent henchman. Quick-tempered and eager to prove himself, he often clashes with Spade.
Iva Archer: Miles Archer's widow and Spade's former lover. Her presence adds complexity to Spade's personal life and the investigation.
Quick facts
The Maltese Falcon was serialized in Black Mask magazine over a five-month span in 1929 to 1930 before being published in book form.
Dashiell Hammett reportedly wrote the entire novel in just three months.
The character of Sam Spade was partly inspired by Hammett's own experiences as a private detective.
The Maltese Falcon has been adapted for the big screen four times, most famously in the 1941 film starring Humphrey Bogart as Sam Spade.
The 1941 film adaptation, now considered a noir classic, marked the directorial debut of John Huston.
The novel is told entirely in the objective third-person perspective, never revealing characters' inner thoughts.
The titular falcon statue was based on a real ceremonial object given to Charles V of Spain in 1530.
In 1990, the Crime Writers' Association ranked The Maltese Falcon at #10 on their list of Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time.
In 1995, the Mystery Writers of America ranked it at #3 on their list of the Best Crime Novels of All Time.
The 1941 film's prop falcon statue sold at auction for over $4 million in 2013.
Hammett never wrote a sequel, though Sam Spade appeared in a few short stories.
About the Author
Samuel Dashiell Hammett was an American author who pioneered the hard-boiled detective fiction genre in the early 20th century. Born in 1894, Hammett drew on his experiences as a Pinkerton detective to create gritty, realistic crime stories that revolutionized the mystery novel. His most famous creations include the characters Sam Spade from The Maltese Falcon and Nick and Nora Charles from The Thin Man.
Hammett's literary career was relatively brief but hugely influential. He published his first short story in 1922 and his final novel in 1934. During that period, he wrote five novels and dozens of short stories, mostly featuring his nameless detective character known as the Continental Op. His terse, unsentimental writing style and morally ambiguous protagonists were a sharp departure from the genteel detective fiction of the time.
Beyond his writing, Hammett lived a colorful life marked by political activism, Hollywood success, and personal struggles. He served in both World Wars, joined the Communist Party, and was blacklisted during the McCarthy era. His long-term romantic relationship with playwright Lillian Hellman was the subject of much public interest. Hammett battled tuberculosis and alcoholism for much of his adult life.
Though his active writing career lasted only about a decade, Hammett's influence on crime fiction and American literature has been profound and long-lasting. His novels have been adapted into classic films, and writers from Raymond Chandler to Elmore Leonard have cited him as an inspiration. In 2011, Hammett's 1929 novel Red Harvest was included on TIME magazine's list of the 100 best English-language novels published since 1923.
