Dashiell Hammett (1894 - 1961)

Samuel Dashiell Hammett (/dəˈʃiːl ˈhæmɪt/; May 27, 1894 – January 10, 1961) was an American author of hard-boiled detective novels and short stories. He was also a screenwriter and political activist. Among the enduring characters he created are Sam Spade (The Maltese Falcon), Nick and Nora Charles (The Thin Man), and the Continental Op (Red Harvest and The Dain Curse).