Definition
Dashiell Hammett was a pivotal American author of hard-boiled detective novels and short stories. He's best known for creating characters like Sam Spade in 'The Maltese Falcon' and Nick and Nora Charles in 'The Thin Man.' Hammett's writing style is sharp, cynical, and realistic, reflecting the gritty urban landscapes of his stories. He brought a new level of realism to the detective genre. Think of him as the architect of the modern crime novel.