Elmore Leonard Criticism
Elmore Leonard, renowned for his contributions to American crime fiction, has earned a distinguished place in literary history through his adept storytelling and evocative portrayals of morally complex characters. His transition from writing Westerns to crafting crime novels marked a pivotal shift in his career, with works like The Big Bounce initially facing hurdles but eventually contributing to his acclaim. Leonard's ability to interweave humor with sharp social commentary, as seen in novels like Stick, has cemented his reputation as a master of the genre.
Leonard's crime narratives are characterized by their engaging dialogue and believable plots, drawing comparisons to genre icons such as Chandler and Hammett. However, his distinctive voice, shaped by influences like Steinbeck and Hemingway, is uniquely his own. As noted in Joseph Hynes's essay, Leonard's works, including Rum Punch and Pronto, often provide satirical examinations of crime and justice, which appeal to both mass audiences and critics alike. Glenn Most describes Leonard as having the ability to illuminate the moral views of his readers, reinforcing the enduring significance of his contributions to crime fiction.
Leonard's narrative skill extends beyond traditional crime tropes, with titles like Killshot and Touch exemplifying his talent for creating vibrant character portrayals and realistic dialogue. His prowess earned him the moniker "Dickens from Detroit" by Time magazine, highlighting his capacity to capture the essence of conversation. Newgate Callendar further acknowledges Leonard's artful creation of morally complex characters, which differentiates his work from that of his predecessors.
Leonard's career has been marked by a diverse range of work, from his early Westerns and screenplays for films like Joe Kidd and Mr. Majestyk, to crime novels such as Fifty-two Pickup and Swag, celebrated for their originality and vivid portrayals of villains. George Stade's analysis praises these works for their depth and engagement. City Primeval: High Noon in Detroit, recognized by Connie Fletcher and critiqued by Robin Winks, stands out as one of his most violent novels, inspired by Leonard’s personal experiences.
Leonard's work continues to captivate audiences through its blend of gritty realism and intricate storytelling. Novels like LaBrava, with praise from Neal Johnston and Alan Cheuse, demonstrate his mastery in transcending genre conventions. His influence on crime fiction is profound, challenging readers with complex narratives and maintaining a steadfast presence in the literary landscape.
Contents
- Principal Works
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Leonard, Elmore (Vol. 28)
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Decent Men in Trouble
(summary)
In the following essay, Newgate Callendar argues that Elmore Leonard distinguishes himself from predecessors like Chandler and Macdonald through his realistic portrayal of morally complex characters and engaging, profanity-laden dialogue, asserting Leonard's prowess in crafting authentic crime narratives that entertain with finesse and psychological depth.
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The Hunted
(summary)
The essay praises Elmore Leonard's "The Hunted" as a brilliantly written and occasionally humorous thriller, noting its engaging characters and intense plot, which combine to make the novel "unputdownable."
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City Primeval: High Noon in Detroit
(summary)
In the following essay, Connie Fletcher examines Elmore Leonard's novel City Primeval, highlighting its clear and crisp style and focusing on the protagonist, Raymond Cruz, as he uncovers high-level corruption in Detroit while investigating a murder.
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City Primeval: High Noon in Detroit
(summary)
In the following essay, Robin Winks critiques Elmore Leonard's "City Primeval: High Noon in Detroit" for its depiction of a modern-day Western showdown in Detroit, highlighting Leonard's use of harsh language and unlikable characters to emphasize the gritty transformation from primeval forest to urban landscape.
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The Author Vanishes: Elmore Leonard's Quiet Thrillers
(summary)
In the following essay, Ken Tucker argues that Elmore Leonard is the finest thriller writer due to his minimalist style, complex moral ambiguity, and the ability to blend fact with fiction, particularly evident in his novel Split Images, which is marked by its gritty realism and unpredictable narrative.
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Elmore Leonard: Making Crime Pay in Miami
(summary)
In the following essay, Jonathan Yardley argues that Elmore Leonard elevates the suspense novel to social commentary by depicting the gritty realities of American business and culture without pretense, using his novel "Stick" to explore themes of reintegration and the American dream in a humorous yet incisive manner.
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Villains Have the Fun
(summary)
In the following essay, George Stade argues that Elmore Leonard's novel "Stick" is most compelling when focusing on its vivid villains and satirical elements, but falters during scenes with the protagonist and heroine, suggesting Leonard's strengths lie in his caricature and suspense rather than traditional character development.
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Paper Crimes
(summary)
In the following essay, Raymond Obstfeld praises Elmore Leonard's novel Split Images for its compelling characters and straightforward plot, although he critiques the unconvincing romantic elements within the narrative.
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A Maze in Miami
(summary)
In the following essay, Neal Johnston examines Elmore Leonard's novel "LaBrava," highlighting its dry tone, inventive subversion of mystery genre clichés, and engaging plot, ultimately suggesting that it may be Leonard's finest work and a worthy addition to the genre.
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A Pleasure for the Hard-Boiled Fans
(summary)
In the following essay, Alan Cheuse praises Elmore Leonard's novel "LaBrava" for its compelling plot, nuanced characters, and evocative depiction of Miami Beach, highlighting Leonard's ability to transcend genre conventions and explore deeper moral ambiguities, distinguishing his work from other contemporary crime novels.
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Decent Men in Trouble
(summary)
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Leonard, Elmore (Vol. 120)
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Middle Class Hustlers
(summary)
In the following review, Morley offers a mixed assessment of Glitz.
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Hard Guys and Heroes
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Kaplan provides a mixed review of Glitz, and compares and contrasts Leonard's novels with works by author Ross Thomas, whose novel is also reviewed.
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Canned Politics and Lovely Rascals
(summary)
In the following mixed review of Bandits, D'Evelyn asserts that the novel does not live up to Leonard's abilities as a "master craftsman" of crime novels.
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Elmore Leonard: Splitting Images
(summary)
In the following essay, Most examines Leonard's use of language and conventions of narrative and plot to illuminate the moral views of his readers.
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Indictments
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Edwards provides a largely positive assessment of Bandits.
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Weirdos on the Barricades
(summary)
The following is McFadden's commendatory review of Freaky Deaky. How dearly Elmore Leonard loves a scam, a con, a slippery scheme. How fond he is of the schemer, especially the schemer who thinks big. What a master criminal Mr. Leonard would make if he got tired of writing thrillers and changed professions. The plot of Freaky Deaky races along, constantly changing course and doubling back on itself, like a cunning fox in front of the hounds.
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Common Criminals and Ordinary Heroes
(summary)
In the following essay, Sandels surveys Leonard's crime novels and reveals how the author departs from and provides commentary on traditional crime story formulas; Sandels also delineates standard themes and elements of plot and character found in these works.
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The Convention of Crime and the Reading of Signs in Elmore Leonard's Glitz
(summary)
In the following essay, Baldwin illustrates Leonard's use of symbols and unique approach to conventions of crime fiction and societal norms in Glitz.
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Hollywood's Left Twisting in the Plot
(summary)
In the following review, Stewart praises Get Shorty, stating that if writing well is the best revenge, Elmore Leonard just merrily evened a lot of scores. Get Shorty gets Hollywood right where it lives and the joke is so funny, so infinitely tricky, so perfectly synchronized on so many levels that it's apt to make you spin.
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Leonard Cocks a Snook at Hollywood
(summary)
In the following review, Champlin offers a favorable assessment of Get Shorty.
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The Shylock Is the Good Guy
(summary)
In the following essay, Nora Ephron commends Elmore Leonard's Get Shorty for its insightful portrayal of Hollywood's psychological landscape, praising Leonard's witty depiction of con men in the movie business while highlighting the novel's engaging dialogue and seamless narrative, despite her initial confusion over the book's title.
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The Alligator Rings Twice
(summary)
In the following review, Gifford applauds Maximum Bob, and calls Leonard "the greatest living writer of crime fiction."
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'High Noon in Detroit': Elmore Leonard's Career
(summary)
In the following essay, Hynes surveys Leonard's career, noting various qualities unique to the author's works.
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How to Make a Fast Buck without Really Dying
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Lehmann-Haupt offers a favorable review of Rum Punch.
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Elmore Leonard for Beginners
(summary)
In the following review, Arensberg provides a highly commendatory assessment of Rum Punch.
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Crime/Mystery; On the Lam in Rapallo
(summary)
In the following review, Carpenter offers a mixed assessment of Pronto.
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When Honor and Justice Were Things To Be Cherished
(summary)
The following is Lochte's laudatory review of Pronto. Elmore Leonard begins his 31st novel Pronto with a Miami bookmaker, Harry Arno, about to tell his girlfriend Joyce his biggest secret. But she already knows it: When he was stationed in Rapallo, Italy, during WWII, he shot a deserter. The joke, and the setup for the novel, is that Harry doesn't realize that he has talked about his 'secret' often—whenever he's had too much to drink. And when the FBI, out of perversity, puts him on the spot with Mafia boss 'Jimmy Cap' Capotorto, forcing Harry to hop it to his special Italian hideaway, everybody knows where he is.
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Junk Souls
(summary)
In the following favorable review of Riding the Rap, Amis applauds Leonard's characteristic style of narrative and dialogue.
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Plumbing the Shallows
(summary)
The following is Worth's positive review of Riding the Rap. Worth discusses Elmore Leonard's rise in profile and critical acclaim, ultimately affirming that Riding the Rap is as good as anything Leonard has ever written.
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It's No Crime To Talk Softly
(summary)
In the following essay, Prial surveys Leonard's life and career, and includes commentary by the author on his works and personal experiences.
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A Love Story (With True Grit)
(summary)
In the following review, McBain provides a primarily favorable assessment of Out of Sight.
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Mr. Wrong
(summary)
In the following review, Lombreglia faults Out of Sight as unrealistic.
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Elmore's Legs
(summary)
In the following essay, Wilkinson presents Leonard's researcher, Greg Sutter, and traces Sutter's various experiences while gathering background material for Leonard's works.
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Out of Sight
(summary)
In the following review, Gottlieb responds negatively to Out of Sight, arguing that putting spoken language into writing is a mere trick and requires distortion to convey the effect of spontaneous spoken life.
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She Keeps a Pistol, Leg Irons, Handcuffs and a Shotgun. Now THAT'S Girl Power
(summary)
In the following review, Fiennes offers a mixed assessment of Out of Sight.
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Middle Class Hustlers
(summary)
- Further Reading