Farewell, My Lovely

Our book group choice for October 2020 is Farewell, My Lovely by Raymond Chandler. It is the story of private detective Philip Marlowe. The novel follows Marlowe’s movements in and around Bay City, a fictional town in California not far from Los Angeles.

Private detective Philip Marlowe is investigating a dead-end missing person case when he sees a felon, Moose Malloy, barging into a nightclub called Florian’s, looking for his ex-girlfriend Velma Valento. The club has changed owners, so no one there now knows her. Malloy ends up killing the black owner of the club and escaping. The murder case is assigned to Lt. Nulty, a Bay City police detective who has no interest in the murder of a black man. Marlowe advises Nulty to look for Malloy’s girlfriend, but Nulty prefers to let Marlowe do the routine legwork and rely on finding Malloy based on his huge size and loud clothes.

Marlowe tracks down Velma, who is now working as a call girl under the name Velma Grayle. She tells Marlowe that she has been blackmailing a wealthy woman named Mrs. Lewin Lockridge. Marlowe is hired by Mrs. Lockridge to find out who is blackmailing her.

Marlowe’s investigation leads him to a number of shady characters, including a drug dealer named Sonderborg, a corrupt police officer named Randall, and a gangster named Amthor. Marlowe also learns that Velma is not the only woman who has been blackmailing Mrs. Lockridge. Another woman, Anne Riordan, has also been extorting money from Mrs. Lockridge.

As Marlowe gets closer to the truth, he finds himself in danger. He is attacked by Sonderborg’s thugs, and he is nearly killed by Amthor.

Farewell, My Lovely is a classic noir novel that features all the elements of the genre: a hard-boiled detective, a femme fatale, a corrupt city, and a twisted web of crime. The novel is also notable for its sharp dialogue and Chandler’s evocative prose.

In addition to the main plot, Farewell, My Lovely also explores a number of themes, including the nature of love, the corruption of power, and the dark side of human nature. The novel is a powerful and suspenseful read that will stay with you long after you finish it.

Here are some additional details about the novel:

• The novel was first published in 1940 by Knopf.
• The novel was adapted into a film three times: in 1942, 1975, and 1979.
• The novel has been praised by critics for its sharp dialogue, evocative descriptions of Los Angeles, and complex and suspenseful mystery.
• The novel has been cited as an influence on many other noir novels and films.

Discussion Questions

1. Has anyone not read this book / any Raymond Chandler before? What were the experiences of new readers in comparison to those who had read it before?
2. What are your thoughts on the writing style and descriptive pieces?
3. Raymond Chandler books are often called the ‘textbook on detective fiction’ – do you think this is true?
4. Some of the language and themes in this book are racist. How far does this overshadow the merits of the rest of the book?
5. What are your thoughts on the portrayal of women in this book?
6. In The Big Sleep Marlowe is referred to as a ‘shop-soiled Galahad’. Is he a version of a knight in shining armour with chivalrous motives?
7. The book contains many contemporary references to 1940s California, many of which are lost on a modern audience. Do these detract from the reading of the book.
8. The noir style of Raymond Chandler has been copied many times over the years, does this make us jaded to the original article?
9. To whom would you recommend the book?

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