Preface

Preface

Some people were surprised when The Maltese Falcon, a detective novel, appeared on the Big Read list. Yes, it is a detective novel—one of the best ever written. It's also a brilliant literary work, as well as a thriller, a love story, and a dark, dry comedy. The only criticism I would offer Hammett's private-eye classic is that it is so much fun to read, it might be hard the first time through to realize how deeply observed and morally serious it is.

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to revitalize the role of literary reading in American popular culture. Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America, a 2004 NEA report, identified a critical decline in reading for pleasure among American adults. The Big Read aims to address this issue directly by providing citizens with the opportunity to read and discuss a single book within their communities.

A great book combines enlightenment with enchantment. It awakens our imagination and enlarges our humanity. It can even offer harrowing insights that somehow console and comfort us. Whether you're a regular reader already or a nonreader making up for lost time, thank you for joining the Big Read.

Dana Gioia

Chairman, National Endowment for the Arts

This text created by the National Endowment for the Arts for their Big Read web site: www.neabigread.org

These events are part of The Big Read,
an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts
in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest.

For more information about The Maltese Falcon visit http://www.neabigread.org/books/maltesefalcon/