Raymond Chandler

NAME Raymond Thornton Chandler

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Raymond Chandler is best known as a pioneer of hard-boiled detective fiction, credited with elevating the genre to literary status through his novels featuring private detective Philip Marlowe. His work was highly influential in shaping American film noir.

BIRTH Raymond Chandler was born on July 23, 1888, in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Chandler was born to an American father, Maurice Chandler, a civil engineer, and an Irish mother, Florence Thornton. After his father, who struggled with alcoholism, abandoned the family, Chandler's mother moved them to England to seek a better life and education for him. Chandler was also a first cousin to the actor Max Adrian, a founding member of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

CHILDHOOD Chandler spent his early years in Plattsmouth, Nebraska, with his mother and father, living near his cousins and his aunt and uncle. After his father abandoned the family, when Raymond was 7, they moved to the London Borough of Croydon in England. There, they were supported by another uncle, a reluctant but successful lawyer in Waterford, Ireland. Chandler spent some summers with his mother’s family in Waterford.

The abandonment of his father had a significant impact on Chandler.

EDUCATION Chandler received a classical education at Dulwich College in London, an institution known for its prestigious alumni, including P.G. Wodehouse and C.S. Forester. He did not attend university but spent time in Paris and Munich to improve his foreign language skills.

CAREER RECORD Chandler initially worked in the British Civil Service but found it unsatisfactory and left to try his hand at journalism, which also proved unsuccessful. 

In 1917, he joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force and later underwent flight training with the Royal Air Force. 

After the war, he returned to the United States, where he worked as an oil executive until he was dismissed due to his problematic behavior. 

During the Great Depression, Chandler turned to writing, publishing his first story, Blackmailers Don't Shoot, in 1933. He became a renowned novelist and screenwriter, with his first novel, The Big Sleep, published when he was 50.

APPEARANCE Chandler was often described as a tall, slender man with a serious demeanor, usually seen in conservative suits that reflected his understated style. He had a gaunt face, deep-set eyes, and a cigarette or pipe perpetually dangling from his lips.

Chandler c. 1943

FASHION Chandler favored a classic and reserved fashion style, often opting for well-tailored suits and understated colors.

Chandler's attention to fashion extended beyond his own wardrobe; he infused detailed descriptions of clothing into his literary works, particularly through his iconic character, Philip Marlowe. Marlowe is noted for wearing a shaggy Borsalino hat, which is a type of felt hat known for its quality and style. Additionally, he often sported a rough gray sports coat adorned with white golf balls as buttons, a brown shirt, and a yellow tie. His trousers were typically pleated gray

CHARACTER Chandler was known for his intelligence, wit, and often melancholic disposition. His work revealed a complex personality that was both cynical about human nature and idealistic about justice and integrity. He was often described as a loner who preferred solitude to social interaction.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Chandler had a dry, sardonic wit, often displayed in his writing, which included clever wordplay, sharp dialogue, and ironic observations about society and human behavior.

RELATIONSHIPS Chandler had a long and complicated relationship with Pearl Eugenie "Cissy" Pascal, a woman 18 years his senior, whom he married on February 6, 1924. After her death in 1954, he struggled with loneliness and depression, never fully recovering from the loss.

MONEY AND FAME Chandler achieved financial success and fame relatively late in life. Despite his late entry into the literary world, he became one of the most celebrated writers of detective fiction, with his books and film adaptations gaining significant acclaim.

FOOD AND DRINK Chandler had a penchant for alcohol, especially whiskey, which greatly impacted his personal and professional life. He struggled with alcoholism throughout his life, and it worsened after Cissy's death. e also had a fondness for good food, especially seafood.

MUSIC AND ARTS Chandler appreciated the arts and was known for his love of jazz and classical music. His writing often references art, music, and culture, indicating a broad range of interests.

LITERATURE Chandler was influenced by writers like Erle Stanley Gardner, and his work is noted for its stylistic and thematic complexity, combining the gritty realism of detective fiction with the narrative sophistication of literary fiction.

Imagine a world where the sun beats down on a city like a relentless judge, where the streets are a labyrinth of shadows and danger. This is the world of Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe, a detective who's as tough as the city he calls home.

Chandler, a man who once traded in oil barrels for words, stumbled into the world of detective fiction during the Great Depression. His first stories were gritty, filled with the kind of characters you'd find in a back alley bar fight. Marlowe, his most iconic creation, was a man of few words but with a heart of gold hidden beneath a cynical exterior.

Chandler's novels were more than just mysteries; they were character studies, explorations of the human condition in a world gone awry. He had a way of painting pictures with words, making you feel the heat of the summer, the chill of a winter night, and the desperation of a man on the edge.

But Chandler wasn't just a storyteller; he was a critic, too. He wrote about the art of detective fiction, laying out the rules for the genre. For him, the detective had to be a man of honor, a hero in a world without heroes.

Marlowe, Chandler's creation, became the quintessential private eye. Played by actors like Humphrey Bogart, he was a symbol of a bygone era, a time when men were tougher and the world was simpler.

So the next time you're looking for a good mystery, pick up a Raymond Chandler novel. You'll find a world of shadows, danger, and a hero who's as tough as the city he calls home.

NATURE Chandler's novels often evoke a sense of place, particularly the natural and urban landscapes of Los Angeles, which became almost a character in his stories.

PETS Raymond Chandler had a black Persian cat named Taki.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Chandler's hobbies included reading, writing, and playing chess. He was also interested in sports, particularly boxing.

Chandler enjoyed writing poetry, and he continued to write romantic poetry throughout his life. He also had a passion for languages and spent time abroad to improve his language skills.

SCIENCE AND MATHS Chandler's meticulous attention to detail and structure in his plots suggests an analytical mind.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Chandler often explored themes of morality, justice, and existential questioning in his work, reflecting a deep engagement with philosophical issues.

POLITICS Chandler's writing often reveals a critical view of political corruption and social injustices, especially in the context of mid-20th century America.

SCANDAL Chandler's dismissal from his job as an oil executive was surrounded by scandal due to his alcoholism, absenteeism, and inappropriate behavior with female employees. His personal life was also marked by gossip regarding his relationship with Cissy, who was significantly older and previously married.

MILITARY RECORD Chandler served with the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War I and later joined the fledgling Royal Air Force. He saw combat in the trenches of France,.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Chandler was twice hospitalized with Spanish flu in the late 1910s.

Chandler suffered from alcoholism throughout his life, which contributed to various health problems, including depression. After Cissy's death, his mental health deteriorated further.

His physical health was often compromised by his excessive drinking and smoking. He suffered from a number of health problems, including heart disease.

HOMES Chandler lived in various locations throughout his life, including London, Los Angeles, and La Jolla, California. After Cissy's death, he briefly returned to England before settling back in La Jolla.

TRAVEL Chandler traveled extensively during his life, including time spent in England, France, Germany, and the United States. His experiences abroad influenced his worldview and writing style.

DEATH Raymond Chandler died aged 70 on March 26, 1959, at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, California, from pneumonia, peripheral vascular shock, and prerenal uremia. He is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in San Diego, California.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Chandler’s work has been adapted into numerous films and TV shows, most notably The Big Sleep (1946) and The Long Goodbye (1973). He also worked on several screenplays, including Strangers on a Train with Alfred Hitchcock.

ACHIEVEMENTS Chandler’s novels and short stories are celebrated for their rich portrayal of Los Angeles and have influenced the hard-boiled detective genre and American film noir. Despite his struggles, he achieved lasting literary acclaim, and his work remains a benchmark in crime fiction.