Rear Window and Other Stories (Crime, Penguin) [Paperback]

Cornell Woolrich (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The great Woolrich turned out a number of classics in the 1930s and 1940s that defined the American mystery genre. Typical of his fine works, these stories involve blackmail and murder committed by ordinary people. Woolrich's books are essential for serious mystery fans.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics); . edition (March 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140234268
• ISBN-13: 978-0140234268
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,431,574 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Characters caught in a noir world, April 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Rear Window and Other Stories (Crime, Penguin) (Paperback)

The short story is a great form for Woolrich -- he deftly illustrates the trajectory of characters caught in a noir world in streamlined, hard-boiled prose. There are no Raymond Chandler-esque prose stylings here: Woolrich's style is closer to Dashiell Hammett's lean style. The title story, originally published as written by William Irish (a frequent Woolrich pseudonym), has grown famous thanks to the Hitchcock film starring Jimmy Stewart. Well-written, it varies only slightly from the film, and Woolrich's clean style lets the reader easily see how Hollywood was attracted to Woolrich's stories as launch pads for movies. But "Rear Window," while good, isn't really the best tale in this collection. The others better typify Woolrich's work -- inexplicable events made believable and inevitable in a noirish, claustrophobic world. This collection is a good introduction to any reader new to Woolrich.