Philosophies of Crime Fiction

About this book

A fresh analysis of both the hidden and explicit philosophical ideas to be found in crime literature Josef Hoffmann covers influences and inspirations in crime writing with references to a stellar cast of crime writers including Arthur Conan Doyle G. K. Chesterton Dashiell Hammett Albert Camus Borges Agatha Christie Raymond Chandler and Ted Lewis. Hoffmann examines why crime literature may provide stronger consolation for readers than philosophy. In so doing he demonstrates the truth of Wittgensteins claim that more wisdom is contained in the best crime fiction than in philosophical essays. Josef Hoffmanns combination of knowledge academic acuity and enthusiasm makes this a must-have book for any crime fiction aficionadowith or without a philosophical nature.