The Black Dahlia (novel)
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| The Black Dahlia | |
 First edition cover |
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| Author | James Ellroy |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Jacket design by Paul Gamarello Jacket illustration by Stephen Peringer Art direction by Barbara Buck |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | L.A. Quartet |
| Genre(s) | Novel, crime fiction |
| Publisher | The Mysterious Press |
| Publication date | September 1987 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover & paperback), audio cassette, audio CD, and audio download |
| Pages | 325 pp (first edition, hardcover) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-89296-206-2 (first edition, hardcover) |
| Followed by | The Big Nowhere |
The Black Dahlia is a neo-noir crime fiction novel by James Ellroy, taking inspiration from the true story of the murder of Elizabeth Short. It is widely considered to be the book that elevated Ellroy out of typical genre writer status and with which he started to garner critical attention as a serious writer of literature[citation needed]. The Black Dahlia is the first book in Ellroy's L.A. Quartet, a cycle of novels set in 1940s and 1950s Hollywood, which is portrayed as a hotbed of corruption and depravity. The Quartet continues with The Big Nowhere, L.A. Confidential, and White Jazz.
Contents |
[edit] Plot summary
- The Road to Partnership
Set during the inter-war and post World War II years in Los Angeles, Officer Dwight "Bucky" Bleichert is a former boxer and a member of the Los Angeles Police Department. Beginning in a prologue segment set during the Zoot Suit Riots of 1943 he comes to the rescue of Officer Lee Blanchard while caught up in the middle of the rampage between American servicemen and Mexican zoot suit gangs. In doing so, they apprehend a wanted criminal and take refuge in an abandoned home while waiting out the riot. Here they size each other up as former boxers and cops. Soon after Bucky relates how Blanchard is eventually promoted while he continues his mundane job as a radio car patrolman in the Bunker Hill section of L.A.
- Fire and Ice
In November of 1946 Bucky is offered a promotion if he agrees to an inter-departmental boxing match against Lee that will help raise support for a political bond issue increasing pay for the LAPD and a slight tax increase. After thinking it over and realizing that his fathers' health is failing and in need of constant care he decides to take up the offer. Bucky also meets Kay Lake, an aspiring artist who lives with Lee, and the two form a relationship. After the fight he is promoted to Warrants Officer as a reward and partnered with Lee Blanchard. Although Bucky loves Kay, he doesn't tell her because of his friendship with Lee, who is interested in Kay romantically.
- 39th and Norton
On January 15th, 1947 while Bucky and Lee are on a stakeout, they see a commotion on the corner lot of 39th and South Norton Avenue. They are present during the discovery of the mutilated body of aspiring actress Elizabeth Short. Dubbed "The Black Dahlia" by the press the case shocks the public and overwhelms the LAPD, hitting Lee especially hard, as it reminds him of his sister Laurie, also a murder victim in which the case was never solved. Meanwhile, Bucky feels that the large number of Detectives and policemen on the case are adequate, and he wants to be relocated back to Warrants. Acting on a hunch while canvassing for clues he meets the mysterious and alluring Madeleine Sprague, a wealthy bar-hopping promiscuous socialite who resembles the Dahlia. Bucky soon makes a proposition to Madeleine who agrees to a relationship and in return Bucky suppresses a possible connection to Elizabeth Short. While the case rolls on, Lee, emotionally involved in the murder and becoming more and more detached begins to act erratically, eventually disappears after a confrontation with their superiors, with Bucky trying to find him and save his job.
At the same time Bucky works closely with his immediate superior Russell Millard, a honest cop with a genuine heart to find the killer of Beth Short. Under pressure from Ellis Loew, Deputy Los Angeles D.A., Bucky is temporarily partnered with veteran Detective Fritz Vogel, a brutal and self-serving cop also on the case. Soon, Bleichert blows his assignment with Vogel on purpose and is retaliated against by Loew and demoted. Bucky uncovers a scandal involving Fritz and some women who knew the Dahlia. The after effects result in him being sent back to the grind of foot patrolman in a dangerous section of South Central L.A. He also breaks up with Madeleine.
After the incident involving Fritz Vogel Bucky sets out for Tijuana and eventually discovers the fate of Lee. Bucky then marries Kay soon after.
- Kay and Madeleine
Two years pass. And with Bucky's detective career destroyed, he transfers to S.I.D and becomes a lab technician. While working on the QT with Russ Millard he begins dwelling on the murder of Elizabeth Short after uncovering more clues and people associated with her. However, his marriage ends up in jeopardy after a suicide investigation when his curiosity about the Sprague family piques. This reignites his relationship with the mysterious Madeleine Sprague. During this time he is drawn even closer to an obsession with Beth Short. Shortly after these events, the marriage to Kay ends.
- Elizabeth
In a downward spiral and during an epic redemption, Bucky finally discovers who is responsible for the murder of Elizabeth Short. The novel ends with possible hope for Bucky's future with Kay.
[edit] Film adaptation
The Black Dahlia was adapted for a film by director Brian DePalma in 2005 and released in 2006.
[edit] Differences between the novel and film
See Main Article The Black Dahlia (film).
[edit] See also
- Black Dahlia - Details of the murder.
[edit] External links
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