Creator of Philip Marlowe and a noted dialogue writer, Raymond Chandler was one of this century's greatest detective writers and also an inveterate letter writer. This book, which marks the centenary of his birth, consists of a selection of such letters from Chandler to his friends and some of his unpublished writings, as well as the author's views on himself, his writing, his famous detective Philip Marlowe, Hollywood, publishers, television, the craft of writing, cats and the mystery novel. Books that feature Philip Marlowe are Farewell My Lovely', The Big Sleep and The Long Goodbye. Chandler also wrote the screenplays for Double Indemnity and The Blue Dahlia both of which were nominated for an Oscar.