This two-hour long discussion class will utilize elements of close reading/close watching to compare three famous noir crime novels from the 1930s and '40s: The Glass Key (Dashiell Hammett), The Big Sleep (Raymond Chandler), and Double Indemnity (James M. Cain). We will discuss each novel in class, then watch the film in class, and finally compare the two. All novels are widely available in print, electronically, and in audio.

Moderators: Doug Iden and Jennifer Manoukian are crime story enthusiasts in print and film form. They have taught together in a similar format previously and enjoyed the thoughtfulness participants bring to the discussions.