The Glass Key

New York & London: Alfred A. Knopf, 1931. First American edition. Hardcover. Orig. light gray cloth and decorated spine. Very good. 282 pages. 19 x13 cm. The London printing of The Glass Key appeared on 20 January 1931, preceding this edition by just over three months. Paramount purchased the film rights prior to its release for a reported $25,000, and the film studio ultimately produced two studio length features adapted from the novel: the first in 1935 starring George Raft, Edward Arnold, and Claire Dodd; the second in 1942, capitalising on the success of Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon, and starring Brian Donlevy, Veronica Lake, and Alan Ladd. Hammett considered The Glass Key to be his favourite. Owner inscription front cover free endpaper. LAYMAN A4.2.a. (Inventory #: 24458)