The Maltese Falcon (1930)

Dashiell Hammett’s renowned novel sees its inscrutable private detective protagonist seeking to impose some sort of order on a chaotic world.

Jacket cover for the 1930 first edition of Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon (Alfred A. Knopf).

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This post is part of the ‘Rewound’ series of analyses of objects or episodes from cultural and political history.

Spoiler alert: This analysis of the novel The Maltese Falcon and its themes reveals plot details for the purpose of enhancing that analysis.

Content warning: Murder; Homophobia; Sexual assault.