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(More customer reviews)Don Herron has been guiding Hammett fans around San Francisco on his Dashiell Hammett Tour since 1977, and his book allows tourists to do the self-guided thing or to enjoy Herron's in-depth knowledge and anecdotes from afar. This thirtieth anniversary edition, published in hardback as part of Vince Emery Productions' "Ace Performer Collection", includes a preface by Dashiell Hammett's daughter Jo, in which she recalls the first time she took the tour, and an introduction by crime novelist Charles Willeford, who advises comfortable walking shoes and some knowledge of Hammett's work before embarking on the tour. This hardback edition may not be the most practical for stuffing in your pocket and setting off to explore the streets of San Francisco, but it is great for reading.
"The Dashiell Hammett Tour" doesn't read like a typical tourbook, which tend not to be very exciting unless you are there. Fans who have never been to San Francisco will find plenty to like. Herron always has something interesting to say. He begins with a 46-page biography of Hammett. There are 30 sites on the tour, plus 9 off-tour sites, that featured either in Hammett's life or in his fiction. (Three of Hammett's novels, including "The Maltese Falcon", and most of his short stories were set in San Francisco.) The entries for each site are a combination of biography, literary criticism, and personal experiences. I've read several Hammett biographies, all of his fiction, and some criticism, and Herron was still able to tell me some things I didn't know.
There are black-and-white photos throughout, new and old, so we can see what the sites looked like when Dashiell Hammett lived in the city, 1921-1929. There are a few maps for walking the tour and for driving it. (I assume that the driving maps are different to accommodate one-way streets.) There is an annotated bibliography at the end. Herron says the tour takes 2-3 hours on foot and ½ hour by car. It's also a lot of fun just to read it. My only criticism is that some readers (particularly older readers) may find that the off-white paper does not provide enough contrast with the black ink for comfortable reading. I wondered if there would be much point in reading "The Dashiell Hammett Tour" if I am not in San Francisco, but Don Herron is always insightful, and I enjoyed the virtual tour a great deal.
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