h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

This entry, http://www.h2g2.com/A464429, concerns one of my favorite authors, Dashiell Hammett. Why do I like him? Because he's violent, realistic, and laconic. My kind of man.

Any suggestions?

A very well-rounded article. The section on Hammett's early life at Pinkerton's Detective Agency was especially interesting.

A few minor points:

"...much of her critically acclaimed works." This should either read "MANY of her critcally acclaimed WORKS" (plural) or "MUCH of her critically acclaimed WORK" (singular). The first of these will probably read better.

"For someone with very little education, his writing style was spare and elegant." I assume you mean 'sparse' rather than 'spare' - in which case it would be "sparse BUT elegant." Also, as this was a consequence of his lack of education, the sentence should really begin: "As someone with..."

You mention the IWW a couple of times. I gather from the context that this is some kind of union movement, but perhaps it might be worth mentioning what the initials actually stand for.

Also, you should include the name of Hammett's wife somewhere - if only for the sake of completeness.

Good entry, though. Well done!

MDS

Thanks for the grammatical tips. Actually I do mean spare--as in brief, laconic, etc.--there are few adjectives used. No overblown descriptions ala William Faulkner to be found. Hallelujah!

Okay, based on the good recommendations of MDS (take note, these were useful criticisms--not just "I liked it" or "I didn't like it", that sort does not help researchers write good articles) I changed and added a few minor points to www.h2g2.com/A464429.

I think it's rather a nifty article, myself. But then again, most of us lowly researchers do, otherwise we would not submit them for your consideration.

Thanks for stopping by!

Fraulein!!
As MDS seems to have made all the salient points, I shall limit myself to one of your obviously favourite phrases: I like this...very much! Personally, I'm not a great lover of crime fiction, and consequently, my only experience of Hammett is via 'The Maltese Falcon' et al. BUT, having read your piece, I am going off to the Library to find some of his work - seriously made me want to read this guy! Fascinating, brief, but chock full interesting information.
Good one!
TheOkapi

Oh, don't get me wrong, I welcome positive or negative opinions (especially positive! ), just not as the sole comment from the Scouts--I thought MDS did a very good job and a throrough critique.

I'm glad it inspired you to read some more of his work. That's what I was hoping for--I think he's a really great writer, one of the best 20th Century American authors, and often overlooked because he writes a type of fiction that is considered declasse. Happy reading!

Fraulein!
Speaking of happy reading, hope you enjoy reading this: your piece on D.H. has been taken under the wing of the sub-editors and, in due course, will appear in the guide proper as an Edited Entry!! Congratulations...oh, the process is, apparently, quite a lengthy one(?) but we'll send you an email to let you know when it is due to appear.
Thread closed!
TheOkapi

*Does a happy dance around her terminal, as this is her third recommended guide entry this month. Pretty good for a newbie to h2g2...*

Editorial Note: This thread has been moved out of the Peer Review forum because this entry has now been recommended for the Edited Guide.

If they haven't been along already, the Scout who recommended your entry will post here soon, to let you know what happens next. Meanwhile you can find out what will happen to your entry here: http://www.h2g2.com/SubEditors-Process

Congratulations!