James M. Cain’s Followers (832)

James M. Cain

Born

in Annapolis, Maryland, The United States

July 01, 1892

Died

October 27, 1977

Genre

Mystery & Thrillers, Literature & Fiction

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James Mallahan Cain (July 1, 1892–October 27, 1977) was an American journalist and novelist. Although Cain himself vehemently opposed labeling, he is usually associated with the hard-boiled school of American crime fiction and seen as one of the creators of the "roman noir."

He was born into an Irish Catholic family in Annapolis, Maryland, the son of a prominent educator and an opera singer. He inherited his love for music from his mother, but his high hopes of starting a career as a singer himself were thwarted when she told him that his voice was not good enough.

After graduating from Washington College where his father, James W. Cain served as president, in 1910, he began working as a journalist for The Baltimore Sun.

He was drafted into th ...more

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James M. Cain’s books

Average rating: 3.87 · 92,195 ratings · 8,118 reviews · 148 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Postman Always Rings Twice 3.77 avg rating — 45,132 ratings — published 1934 — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Double Indemnity 4.06 avg rating — 26,966 ratings — published 1936 — 141 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Mildred Pierce 3.93 avg rating — 10,247 ratings — published 1941 — 122 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Cocktail Waitress 3.54 avg rating — 2,617 ratings — published 2012 — 33 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Postman Always Rings Twice / Double Indemnity / Mildred Pierce / Selected Stories by James M. Cain, Robert Polito (Editor) 4.23 avg rating — 1,278 ratings — published 1934 — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Serenade 3.56 avg rating — 861 ratings — published 1937 — 69 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Butterfly 3.35 avg rating — 495 ratings — published 1947 — 34 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Baby in the Icebox and Other Short Fiction 3.71 avg rating — 262 ratings — published 1932 — 21 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Three by Cain: Serenade/Love's Lovely Counterfeit/The Butterfly 3.93 avg rating — 226 ratings — published 1989 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Love's Lovely Counterfeit 3.36 avg rating — 216 ratings — published 1942 — 44 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Quotes by James M. Cain (?)

“If your writing doesn't keep you up at night, it won't keep anyone else up either”
― James M. Cain

tags: james-m-cain, writing-craft

1478 likes

“Love, when you get fear in it, it's not love any more. It's hate.”
― James M. Cain, The Postman Always Rings Twice

tags: fear, hate, love

122 likes

“You have to wait for your mind to catch up with whatever it is it’s working on; then you can write a novel.”
― James M. Cain

tags: advice, mind, novel, writting

74 likes

See all James M. Cain's quotes »

Polls

September 2019 Classic Mystery Poll

We ask that you only vote if you are planning on participating in our discussion should your choice win.

Which Classic Mystery would you like to read in September?

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle

19 votes, 32.8%

The Big Sleep (Philip Marlowe, #1) by Raymond Chandler

19 votes, 32.8%

Double Indemnity by James M. Cain

14 votes, 24.1%

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss

6 votes, 10.3%

58 total votes

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James M. Cain’s Followers (832)

James M. Cain

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Combine Editions
James M. Cain’s books