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James M. Cain

James M. Cain’s Followers (893)

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James M. Cain


Born
in Annapolis, Maryland, The United States
July 01, 1892

Died
October 27, 1977

Genre


James Mallahan Cain (July 1, 1892–October 27, 1977) was an American journalist and novelist. Although Cain himself vehemently opposed labeling, he is usually associated with the hard-boiled school of American crime fiction and seen as one of the creators of the "roman noir."

He was born into an Irish Catholic family in Annapolis, Maryland, the son of a prominent educator and an opera singer. He inherited his love for music from his mother, but his high hopes of starting a career as a singer himself were thwarted when she told him that his voice was not good enough.

After graduating from Washington College where his father, James W. Cain served as president, in 1910, he began working as a journalist for The Baltimore Sun.

He was drafted into th
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3.93 avg rating — 242 ratings — published 1989 — 7 editions
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3.35 avg rating — 239 ratings — published 1942 — 52 editions
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More books by James M. Cain…
Quotes by James M. Cain  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)

“If your writing doesn't keep you up at night, it won't keep anyone else up either”
James M. Cain

“Love, when you get fear in it, it's not love any more. It's hate.”
James M. Cain, The Postman Always Rings Twice

“You have to wait for your mind to catch up with whatever it is it’s working on; then you can write a novel.”
James M. Cain

Polls

January 2016 Short Story Read

 
  27 votes, 19.9%

1945, Animal Farm by George Orwell, 102 pages
 
  22 votes, 16.2%

1952, Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett, 109 pages
 
  19 votes, 14.0%

 
  17 votes, 12.5%

1945, The Pearl by John Steinbeck, 87 pages
 
  12 votes, 8.8%

 
  11 votes, 8.1%

 
  9 votes, 6.6%

1936, Double Indemnity by James M. Cain, 115 pages
 
  7 votes, 5.1%

 
  3 votes, 2.2%

 
  3 votes, 2.2%

 
  2 votes, 1.5%

1903, To Build A Fire by Jack London, 32 pages
 
  2 votes, 1.5%

1886, Kholstomer by Leo Tolstoy, 56 pages
 
  2 votes, 1.5%

 
  0 votes, 0.0%

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