Definition of Noir Novel

The novel As we know it, it began with the adventures of the ingenious nobleman Don Quixote de la Mancha. from this one on narration Miguel de Cervantes has developed all kinds of novel genres: romantic, adventure, science fiction, horror, humor, historical novel, etc.

From the detective novel to the crime novel

Edgar Alan Poe's account "The Murders of Morgue Street" is considered to be the first work of the gender police, because in it Detective Dupin tries to solve an enigmatic crime.

From this precedent, new literary figures: Conan Doyle creates the character of Serlock Holmes and Agatha Cristie the detective Hercules Poirot. In the 1920s some stories were published in the American magazine "Black mask" and later the editorial Gallimard began to publish stories in the so-called Noire Series. In this way, the detective novel was called a crime novel.

General features of the crime novel

It focuses on the narration of a crime, usually a murder shrouded in mystery. Throughout the story, the perpetrator remains hidden from the reader, who faces a puzzle and tries to find out who the real culprit is.

As a general guideline, there are two protagonists: the investigator and the criminal. Low-income urban environments are described, as well as situations of violence and of social marginalization. Misery is highlighted in most novels moral of society and widespread corruption.

The authors use a realistic and direct language, just as it is spoken in the streets. It is very common to use the dialogue and the story is usually told in the first person.

Philip Marlowe's character is the prototype detective from the crime novel

Raymond Chandler is the creator of the character of Philip Marlowe. This private detective works in a seedy office and his financial situation is unstable. He is a single man, lonely and with his own moral rules. He's a tough guy cynical and at the same time sentimental. He likes to drink and in his spare time he plays chess alone. This character definitely became a legend when his adventures came to the big screen from the hand of actor Humprey Bogart.

In recent years the crime novel has incorporated new world-renowned researchers and Among them is the character of Varg Veum, an attractive Norwegian detective created by Gunnar Staalesen.

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