The postman always rings twice door James M. Cain

Author information James M. Cain (1892-1977) is recognized today as one of the masters of the hard-boiled school of American novels. Born in Baltimore, the son of the president of Washington College, he began his career as reporter on the Baltimore papers, served in the American Expeditionary Force in World War I and wrote the material for The Cross of Lorraine, the newspaper of the 79th Division. He returned to become professor of journalism at St. Johnas College in Annapolis and then worked for H.L. Mencken on The American Mercury. He later wrote editorials for Walter Lippmann on the New York World and was for a short period managing editor of The New Yorker, before he went to Hollywood as a scriptwriter. His first novel, The Postman always Rings Twice, was published when he was forty-two and at once became a sensation. It was tried for obscenity in Boston, was said by Albert Camus to have inspired his own book, The Stranger, and is now classic. Cain followed it next year with Double Indemnity, leading Ross Macdonald to write years later.” Cain has won unfading laurels with a pair of native American masterpieces, Postman and Double Indemnity, back to back.” Cain published eighteen books in all and was working on his autobiography at the time of his death. Characterization Main

Frank (round): a man who falls in love with Cora. He’s a type of guy who’s rough but smart. His passion for Cora makes him mad of love. The Greek (flat): his real name is Nick) Cora’s husband. Cora (round): the Greek’s wife (He’s always called the Greek
Minor
Mr. Sackett: the 1st investigator
Mr. Katz: the 2nd
The Judge: the judge at their trail
Kennedy: at first he worked with Katz Madge Allen: a girl (a young lady that frank met while on vacation) who caused the row. The eyewitnesses Narrative structure It’s a first person story and told in chronological order. Time and place The duration of this book is about two or three months. This story takes place in: America: Calif.: Glendale, San Bernardino and Glendale. Mex.: Caliente, Ensenada. Plot The story is set in a roadside sandwich joint in California, which has a living part, a filling station and a lunchroom part. When Frank arrived at the lunchroom the Greek offered him a job. Frank said yes, and immediately when he saw the Greeks wife Cora he fel in love with her. They made love to each other when the Greek wasn’t at home. One day they made a plan to kill the Greek, the wanted to kill him in the bathroom but failed. The Greek fell on his head, but wasn’t dead. They told the police it was an accident. After a week the Greek went out of the hospital, back home. But Cora and Frank drove away together. After a while Cora wanted to go back home. So she did. But Frank staid in town and three weeks later he met the Greek on the marked, the Greek asked him to come back to the lunchroom and work again. Frank left the town with the Greek and they drove to the lunchroom. When they got there, Frank met Cora again. They still loved each other so they made a new plan to kill the Greek, and spent the rest of their lives together. This time their plan worked and the Greek got killed. First the judge didn’t believe their story about this “car accident”. But Cora and Frank convinced the judge and they he pleaded them not guilty. Cora and Frank were happy that their plan had worked. Cora got pregnant and they made a ride in their car. But the worth ting happened, Cora got killed on that ride because of a car accident. But Frank survived, and the judge condemned him guilty for the murder on Cora and the Greek. Motive? their money. Theme and explanation of the title I think you can describe the theme as: God is punishing at once. (How do you say that in English?) The title means a warning for something unexpected.