Who Killed Bob Teal? By Dashiell Hammett

Narrated by Richard S. Rose
Richard S. Rose can also be heard, among other places, as the voice of Jarno in “Visionaries”, and the voice of Mac in “Mac (and Bonnie's)” (podcasts.apple.com/cy/podcast... he is also the voice of Walt Whitman in the documentary, “In Search of Walt Whitman” seen on PBS and elsewhere. You can hear him reciting Shakespeare in the Apple store (music.amazon.com/albums/B0BK3... [e-mail].
Dashiell Hammett, born on May 27, 1894, in St. Mary's County, Maryland, was an American author renowned for his significant contributions to the hardboiled detective fiction genre. Hammett's distinctive style and gritty portrayal of crime and corruption left an indelible mark on American literature.
Before his literary career, Hammett worked various jobs, including as an operative for the Pinkerton National Detective Agency. This experience greatly influenced his writing, providing him with firsthand knowledge of crime and the criminal underworld. His disillusionment with detective work and a desire for a more stable income led him to pursue a career as a writer.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Hammett rose to prominence with a series of novels and short stories featuring the iconic detective characters Sam Spade and the Continental Op. His groundbreaking novel, "The Maltese Falcon" (1930), is considered a classic of the genre and one of the greatest detective novels ever written. The novel introduced readers to the cynical and hard-drinking private investigator Sam Spade, a character that became synonymous with Hammett's work.
Hammett's writing is characterized by its sharp dialogue, realistic depictions of crime and its consequences, and a focus on the moral ambiguity of his characters. His influence extended beyond literature, shaping the film noir genre and inspiring countless writers in the detective fiction tradition.
Despite his success, Hammett's career was cut short by personal and political challenges. He became involved in leftist political activities and was briefly imprisoned for his refusal to cooperate with the House Un-American Activities Committee during the McCarthy era. This tumultuous period in his life impacted his ability to write and publish.
Dashiell Hammett passed away on January 10, 1961, but his legacy endures. His contributions to detective fiction and the noir genre continue to be celebrated, and his works remain essential reading for those interested in the evolution of American literature in the 20th century.

[@MaggieatPlay]

Thank you, Tony! I appreciate hearing Dashiell Hammett read; having spent years reading his works. Good choice in narrator. Thank you, Richard Rose! Very well narrated. I find your voice very soothing; pleasant to hear. Happy listener. 😍

[@classicdetective]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Story-Voracious66]

Thanks Tony. 🕵🏼 A new narrator ( as promised 🙂). Definitely a Northern Exposure to his accent. ? Thank you Mr R. S. Rose. Great job. Mr Walker sets a very high standard, and you did him justice. 👏👏

[@martiwilliams4592]

Old time detective in San Francisco, my home town--can't be better. Love the narration. Very enjoyable. Blather away! !!!!

[@persephonewilliams8587]

The narration was wonderful! It drew me right into the story.

[@janegreen9340]

An almost perfect narration - just needed a few commas. Recently read “Red Harvest”, quite a body count. The intro/outro music is great. Thanks for the stories.

[@thurayya8905]

I'm glad everything worked out. Sometimes, you have to wait three to six months and cast your net again, especially if you are looking for a particular sound. Love the old detective stories; a good one is very evocative. Old downtown San Francisco has a special feel to it, with fog, foghorn, and traffic. Can't wait to hear the next one!

[@classicdetective]

I’ve got another one lined up

[@chrisstone9200]

In San Francisco, Gough Street is pronounced “Goff”.

[@classicdetective]

interestingly that’s how we say Gough where i’m from too

[@TonyJp-ux3pn]

I am Tony ,I like this story, it's really interesting,It makes me glad to listen to your stories

[@classicdetective]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@pamelascholz9680]

And Gough (Gow) is pronounced Goff St....

[@vickijoseph2731]

Great narrator! Sounded hard and old time dective- like!!!

[@classicdetective]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@electrictofumuffins6384]

Ok. You need two American accents. NY & CA this guy CA). Hammett writes about NY. Philip Marlowe is Los Angeles but they often do him with a NY accent which misses the whole tone. Wanna hear the difference? Two pre-disco records that came out around the same year in 1970s; Roy Ayers (LA) and Jimmy Castor Bunch (NY). Notice how few word Ayers uses and how many Castor does use. CA talks sloooow. They draw out words. They're cool, not anxious & they all morn the fact that they have no soul. NY people are hot, anxiety ridden, hard and have lots of heart under the surface. Ayers: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHSclYSFo7qsl9Esi=jUm_0Mu71zu7aqsi Castor: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gonKi3iNgNWHbK8si=RlX0gBBb3a4iWQCZ

[@classicdetective]

Great analysis!

[@flapjackfae]

The narrator's voice would be well suited to a psychopath character, but for this, it's distractingly weird and creepy.

[@andystrickland9101]

Blather on.

[@jivanvasant]

Dashiell Hammett's Dark Side Hammett was married to his wife from 1921 to 1937. In 1931, Hammett embarked on a 30-year romantic relationship with the playwright Lillian Hellman. Hammett devoted much of his life to left-wing activism. He was a strong antifascist throughout the 1930s, and in 1937 joined the Communist Party. On May 1, 1935, Hammett joined the League of American Writers (1935-1943), whose members included Lillian Hellman, Alexander Trachtenberg of International Publishers, Frank Folsom, Louis Untermeyer, I. F. Stone, Myra Page, Millen Brand, Clifford Odets, and Arthur Miller. Members were largely either Communist Party members or fellow travelers. Hammett served time in a West Virginia federal penitentiary, where, according to Lillian Hellman, he was assigned to clean toilets. Hellman noted in her eulogy of Hammett that he submitted to prison rather than reveal the names of the contributors to the fund because "he had come to the conclusion that a man should keep his word." Hellman wrote that during the 1950s, Hammett became "a hermit". Hammett could no longer live alone, and they both knew it, so he spent the last four years of his life with Hellman.

[@rebeccawoolfolk5377]

First like, first comment! Fourth view.

[@nicoleverwey-baker8259]

The narration???

[@ronpearson998]

Doesn't work.

[@ajb7786]

Not great pacing on this narration. I’m not trying to be overly critical, but hopefully with some practice he gets better.

[@shannonross6312]

And he needs to learn how to pronounce the San Francisco street names! It’s Goff not Gow for Gough Street.

[@davehopkins1970]

Not good narration