Red Wind by Raymond Chandler (1938)
The narrative follows a private detective navigating a tense and dangerous world filled with deception, murder, and intrigue. The story begins with the protagonist, a detective named Philip Marlowe, experiencing a hot Santa Ana wind while visiting a new cocktail lounge. There, he witnesses a murder when a drunk man named Waldo shoots a well-dressed stranger, who is later identified as Leon Valesanos, a croupier. Marlowe becomes embroiled in the investigation, which reveals that Valesanos was involved in a blackmail scheme against a wealthy couple, Frank and Lola Barsaly. Lola, who had a romantic past with Valesanos, is desperate to retrieve a string of pearls that were given to her by a deceased lover, Stan Phillips. The pearls, however, are not what they seem; they are imitations, and Valesanos had been blackmailing Lola and her husband without either knowing the full extent of his schemes. As Marlowe delves deeper, he encounters various characters, including the police, who are not entirely trustworthy. He learns that Valesanos had been killed by Al Tessilore, a former associate who had a grudge against him. The plot thickens as Marlowe discovers that the pearls were hidden in Valesanos's apartment, and he must navigate the dangerous waters of deception and betrayal to uncover the truth. The climax reveals the complexities of human relationships, as Marlowe confronts Lola about the pearls and the truth behind her connection to Valesanos. Ultimately, the story explores themes of love, betrayal, and the moral ambiguities of its characters. Marlowe's journey leads him to a resolution that is both satisfying and reflective of the harsh realities of the world he inhabits, culminating in a poignant moment where he discards the imitation pearls into the ocean, symbolizing the futility of the deception that surrounded them.
By Raymond Chandler · First published 1938 · Genre: Hardboiled Fiction, Mystery, Noir · 7 chapters · 22,957 words
First lines
There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight. Meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their husbands' necks. Anything can happen. You can even get a full glass of beer at a cocktail lounge.
I was getting one in a flossy new place across the street from the apartment house where I lived. It had been open about a week and it wasn't doing any business. The kid behind the bar was in his early twenties and looked as if he had never had a drink in his life.
What this Textopian page supports
Red Wind is listed on Textopian as a novel by Raymond Chandler, dated 1938 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Raymond Chandler
- Date: 1938 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Hardboiled Fiction, Mystery, Noir, Detective Fiction, Thriller
- Length: 22,957 words
- Structure: 7 chapters, 660 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Red Wind by Raymond Chandler
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Red Wind?
- How does this novel by Raymond Chandler fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Hardboiled Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
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Genres
- Hardboiled Fiction — The story features a gritty, realistic portrayal of crime and moral ambiguity, characteristic of hardboiled literature.
- Mystery — The plot revolves around a central mystery that involves investigation and uncovering hidden truths.
- Noir — The themes of fatalism, crime, and complex characters align with the conventions of noir fiction.
- Detective Fiction — The protagonist engages in detective work to solve a crime, fitting the detective fiction genre.
Tags
detective · noir · mystery · crime · Los Angeles · hardboiled · Raymond Chandler · Philip Marlowe · suspense · thriller · literary fiction · short story