Bodleian Libraries: Raymond Chandler (1888-1959) made detective fiction into a literary form. He worked hard on his throwaway remarks, keeping lists of sharp comparisons, similes and gags. Many of them never made into his works, but if they did, he marked them and added the title of the novel in which he used them.

Raymond Chandler (1888-1959) made detective fiction into a literary form. He worked hard on his throwaway remarks, keeping lists of sharp comparisons, similes and gags. Many of them never made into his works, but if they did, he marked them and added the title of the novel in which he used them.

These pages are in our free Write, Cut, Rewrite exhibition at Weston Library, dedicated to the creative importance of editing in literature - or ‘killing your darlings’. Come and see more from Chandler, Ian Fleming, John Le Carré and many other writers! visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/cut

Write Cut Rewritevisit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk Free exhibition at the Bodleian Libraries in Oxford. An exhibition dedicated to the creative importance of editing in literature

"She had a nice cool goddamyou smile."

a simple update and that one's ready to go

Banger

“I left her with her virtue intact, but it was a struggle. She nearly won.” Hoo boy!

I may have to steal the one about a scotsman's tip.

Chandler's collected letters are also wonderful!

I refuse to believe "As soothing as a piano salesman" isn't a Tom Waits lyric

Float like a butterfly. Sting like a bee. Write like an accountant.

A very cool part of the collection of Chandler's personal papers retained by Jean Fracasse in San Diego, from her daughter's 2011 sale at Sotheby's. The "shallow as a cafeteria tray" line shows up in "Mandarin's Jade," with the proto-Marlowe detective John Dalmas.

'Smart as a hole through nothing' is genius

I love his fashion note

I cannot believe he didn't use "She threw her arms around my neck and nicked my ear with the gunsight."

Post