Free Republic

Seventy-five years ago this week a revolution in crime-writing began when Knopf published The Big Sleep, Raymond Chandler's first novel. Reviews in 1939 were wary and unenthusiastic, however, and only gradually was it recognised that Chandler had pulled off a bold fusion of highbrow and lowbrow – much-applauded by authors such as WH Auden, Graham Greene and Evelyn Waugh, but also much-imitated by fellow chroniclers of murder.

Man Who Used Vaccum Part As Gun Sentenced Mon May 16, 6:38 PM ET MUNCIE, Ind. - A man who pretended a vacuum cleaner attachment was a gun during two robberies last year has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. Michael Shewman, 24, admitted to robbing a Village Pantry and Mutual Federal Savings Bank in July 2004, authorities said. Delaware County Circuit Court Judge John Feick last week sentenced Shewman to two 20-year sentences, which will be served at the same time. Shewman had earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of armed robbery. The Muncie man told Feick the...

This book has a very special appeal for those who love the Church and the traditional Latin Mass. It first appeared in Great Britain under the title Literary Converts, and then was reprinted by Ignatius Press in 1999 with the subtitle "Spiritual Inspiration in an Age of Unbelief." I especially like the subtitle because this book has reinforced my faith today by affording me the company of the authors with whom I grew up: G.K. Chesterton, Hilaire Belloc, Ronald Knox, Evelyn Waugh, Graham Greene, Malcolm Muggeridge, and a host of others. My main interest in them today is that many...

The Little White House—1945 NWT (Nashville War Time): I am about to convene another high priority meeting of my War Council to review advances on the southern Iraq Front. Our Coalition Forces are making great progress. Saddam International Airport captured. The destruction of the Republican Guard in Baghdad now seems inevitable. A look at the Battle Situation Map shows that…. AAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! I could have been doing the kewl Commander-In-Chief thing instead of merely fantasizing about it had it not been for those lousy 537 votes in Florida. And do you know why I didn't get those 537 votes? One...