Customer Reviews

Cornell Woolrich: First You Dream, Then You Die

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Well researched glimpse into Woolrich's complete works. A fascinating look at the mystery and pulp publishing field from the late 20's to the 70's. Woolrich tended to be reclusive and not always factual in recounting his life, so Nevins Jr. can only speculate on Woolrich's approach in writing, his personal life and family history. It is a very enjoyable read becuase of the way Nevens ties in Woolrich's main obsessions - the fear of annihilation, fear of losing loved ones, the feeling of the utter lonliness of the universe, and the certainty of randomness of fate - with all of his works - and finds worthy moments even in the tawdriest of Woolrich's pulp shorts (e.g. Vampire's Honeymoon).

James M. Cain once wrote that a biographer should focus on the man and "where stories inevitably figure concern himself with origins rather than worth."

Unfortunately, advice not heeded here. While Nevins's book is fact-filled, I constantly disagree with his very subjective critiques of individual stories and novels. He frequently takes his subject behind the woodshed for his contrivances and purple prose on one page, and then sings his praises for the very same thing on the next. I find that Cornell Woolrich's overwrought style totally immerses me in his imagination; his writing is distinguished by this indulgence. I will admit that I oftentimes find myself groaning at a ridiculous coincidence or dodgy plotting, but is it necessary to condemn this tendency in such harsh language? "Fear", "Through a Dead Man's Eye" "Rendezvous in Black" and so many others are filled with brilliant writing that the author does not even scratch. So be warned that you will have to sit through a lot of Nevins's nitpicking and lost opportunities.

As a key example, Nevins cites Woolrich's short story "Three O'Clock" as possibly his very best -- a bleak concoction of fear, paranoia, and nihilism. He even says to read it is "to die a little". I think that is a brilliant way of putting it, and in a bizarre way actually true. Yet as much as I love the premise of "Three O'Clock", Woolrich's tendency to write his way out of a hopeless situation, having not established a clever "out" earlier in his development, makes for an unsatisfying conclusion -- even if all of the ideas are there.

Still, Mr. Nevins is well versed in the culture of the pulps and how Woolrich fit in; the book is filled with fascinating information for fans like myself. I'm glad it's around.