Hagenauer, George :: History of Mystery Art not currently in the exhibit

H is for Hangman Color prleim

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Artwork Details

Title:	H is for Hangman Color prleim
Artist:	Cardwell Higgins (Painter)
Media Type:	Paint - Acrylic
Art Type:	Prelim
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	641
Likes on CAF:	0 1
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	11/14/2009
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Description

Prelim very close to the one used for Lawrence Treat's H is f0r hangman as published by Martin Goodman's paperback arm in 1944. Here is my review o the novel which I just read and the impact on the cover design.
First I read this book because I had the original preliminary art for the cover. I have done an exhibit on the history of the mystery genre using art to tell the story. In order to add art to the exhibit I read the novels done by the writer for the book featuring the art etc.. Of secondary note is that this novel was part of an early digest paperback line created by Martin Goodman publisher of pulp magazines but also of Timely (later Marvel Comics) The paperback line proudly sports Goodman'Atlas logo on the back (though the title of the line varies from book to book!) Goodman is basically known for not knowing quality writing if it bit him on the nose. This novel fits that mold. Treat had a long career in mystery writing - hard to believe when you read this but it is an early book maybe his 3rd or 4th. The cast of characters is huge and confusing, the investigation changes every 5-10 pages and the writing is really bad. At a point when the lead detective is in a car crash and hanging in the wreckage , Treat pauses the story to describe how the detective eats a blackberry that fell into the car, This is not a rare example. The book is not bad enough to be good like say Harry Stephens Keeler and it looks like Treat later learned to write a novel (though I am not going to explore his work further) If he is of interest I would suggest starting on novels and stories post 1950 and skipping his later work. By the way the editorial incompetence goes beyond selecting this novel. The novel is set among a Chautauqua- which is an outdoor cultural fair with music, lectures , readings. While Treat describes events at the Chautauqua, he doesn't go into it in depth so the paperback cover artist Caldwell Higgins depicts it as a circus tent with a Ferris wheel! Pretty much a mess but a good example of the low end material that too often appeared in the books rom bottom level publishers of the 1940s

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About the Owner

	George Hagenauer ( 11 ) Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	March 2005
Last Login:	September 2025
Ebay Id:	georgehagenauer
Country:	UNITED STATES
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