Characters and Plots in the Fiction of James M. Cain

A pioneer in "hard-boiled fiction," James Mallahan Cain achieved fame with his first novel, The Postman Always Rings Twice . His Double Indemnity and Mildred Pierce soon followed, as did successful movie versions of all three novels. With his seventeen other novels and numerous short stories, Cain remains one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century.