James M. Cain’s Followers (896)

James M. Cain

Born

in Annapolis, Maryland, The United States

July 01, 1892

Died

October 27, 1977

Genre

Mystery & Thrillers, Literature & Fiction

edit data

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 ...more

Combine Editions
James M. Cain’s books

Average rating: 3.86 · 101,555 ratings · 9,256 reviews · 161 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Postman Always Rings Twice 3.76 avg rating — 50,414 ratings — published 1934 — 255 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Double Indemnity 4.05 avg rating — 29,267 ratings — published 1936 — 153 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Mildred Pierce 3.93 avg rating — 11,024 ratings — published 1941 — 141 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Cocktail Waitress 3.55 avg rating — 2,981 ratings — published 2012 — 31 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Postman Always Rings Twice / Double Indemnity / Mildred Pierce / Selected Stories by James M. Cain, Robert Polito (Editor) 4.19 avg rating — 1,333 ratings — published 1934 — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Serenade 3.54 avg rating — 930 ratings — published 1937 — 79 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Butterfly 3.35 avg rating — 546 ratings — published 1947 — 41 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Baby in the Icebox and Other Short Fiction 3.71 avg rating — 280 ratings — published 1932 — 28 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Three by Cain: Serenade/Love's Lovely Counterfeit/The Butterfly 3.93 avg rating — 243 ratings — published 1989 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Love's Lovely Counterfeit 3.35 avg rating — 240 ratings — published 1942 — 52 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by James M. Cain…

Quotes by James M. Cain (?)

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

tags: james-m-cain, writing-craft

1466 likes

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

tags: fear, hate, love

125 likes

“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

tags: advice, mind, novel, writting

76 likes

See all James M. Cain's quotes »

Polls

June 2025 New School Poll

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón (2001) 487 pages

45 votes, 23.1%

The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain (1936) 116 pages, last read January 2019

37 votes, 19.0%

The Quiet American by Graham Greene (1955) 180 pages

34 votes, 17.4%

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill (1983) 138 pages

31 votes, 15.9%

Peyton Place by Grace Metalious (1956) 372 pages

18 votes, 9.2%

Manhatten Transfer by John Dos Passos (1925) 342 pages

17 votes, 8.7%

Nightwood by Djuna Barnes (1936) 182 pages

13 votes, 6.7%

195 total votes

comments and details

More...

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Glens Falls (NY) ...: Were you an avid reader as a child?	61	43	Apr 01, 2010 09:08PM
The Book Challenge: Inna's 200 in 2010	67	770	Apr 09, 2010 05:52AM
The Seasonal Read...: Fall Challenge 2010 Completed Tasks (do NOT delete any posts in this thread)	2785	1213	Nov 30, 2010 09:03PM
Reading with Style: FA10 RwS Completed Tasks	923	434	Dec 01, 2010 06:41AM
The Next Best Boo...: Stacey - Frequent Flyer	15	56	Dec 14, 2010 07:06AM
Cover to Cover Ch...: Ellen's 200+ in 2011	2	54	Jan 02, 2011 01:24PM
The Seasonal Read...: Winter Challenge 2010-2011 Completed Tasks (do not delete any posts)	2578	1119	Feb 28, 2011 09:05PM

More…

James M. Cain’s Followers (896)

James M. Cain

Combine EditionsJames M. Cain’s books

Polls

Topics Mentioning This Author

Combine Editions
James M. Cain’s books