This is a guest post from Zach Klitzman, writer-editor in the Library of Congress Publishing Office.
Earlier this month the Library of Congress published “To Catch a Thief” by David Dodge as the 19th entry in its Crime Classics Series. The book, originally published in 1952, tells the story of John Robie, a retired jewel thief in the south of France, who must catch a copycat thief or go to prison himself for crimes he did not commit.
The Library of Congress Crime Classics series features some of the finest American crime writing from the 1860s to the 1960s and is edited by crime fiction expert Leslie S. Klinger. For each entry, Klinger writes an introduction, explanatory footnotes, discussion questions for reading groups, a further reading list of both fiction and critical works, and an author biography.
To celebrate the release of “To Catch a Thief,” Klinger answered questions about his process of writing the supplemental material, what makes “To Catch a Thief” special, how it compares to the Alfred Hitchcock film adaptation, and more.
Zach Klitzman: What is your overall process for writing the materials that go into a Crime Classic?
Leslie S. Klinger: The first step is to read the book very slowly, dropping in “dummy” footnotes whenever I come across a phrase or word that needs definition or a name or place that needs identifying or even a question like “Huh?” Then I amass my research materials—everything I can find that’s been written by others about the book and the author. I have a large library of critical materials, but resources on the internet are of course invaluable. In particular, I look through newspaper archives to find contemporary reviews. Then I’m ready to fill in the blank notes and write an appropriate introduction and biography of the author. Finally, the book is extensively edited by the brilliant staff of the Publishing Office of the LOC. Sometimes the staff finds a better source for information in the Library’s collections than mine (and occasionally politely corrects my errors)! And often additional notes are added, because something that I thought was common knowledge turns out not to be (the result of too much annotating)!
ZK: The latest Crime Classic is David Dodge’s “To Catch a Thief.” What makes the book a Crime Classic?
LK: It’s got an appealing setting (who doesn’t want to visit the south of France?), an appealing protagonist (a retired cat burglar!), and an engaging mystery (who is framing our hero?). I think the very idea of someone stealing jewelry from the fabulously wealthy strikes us as not quite criminal, though the book ultimately ponders deeper questions about justice.
ZK: What did you enjoy about editing this title? Any interesting finds while doing research?
LK: The research into the south of France was great fun. I found a Michelin guide from the 1940s, the era of the book, which provided a good deal of “atmosphere.” David Dodge, the author, was primarily a travel writer, and his enjoyment of the location was evident throughout the book. I also looked at the history of the resistance to the Nazi occupation of France, a heartwarming reminder of how freedom ultimately prevailed during dark days. [Ed. note: flashbacks explain that Robie fought as a guerilla during World War II.]
ZK: Some readers might be familiar with the 1955 Alfred Hitchcock film adaptation of the book, starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. What distinguishes the book from the film in your eyes?
LK: For a modern reader, it’s impossible to read the book without picturing Cary Grant and Grace Kelly as the leading characters in the story, but the film is aimed at entertaining the audience, while the book has a deeper aim. A movie can’t really tell you what a character is thinking or feeling—the actors must convey that in a nonverbal way—so an author can consider moral issues that may be glossed over in a film.
ZK: What is another book in the Crime Classics series you would recommend to someone looking to jump in?
LK: I’d start at the beginning! The first book in the series was “That Affair Next Door” by Anna Katharine Green, the “mother” of American crime fiction, first published in 1897. It’s set in Gilded Age New York and stars Amelia Butterworth, who would become the model for Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple. The book is a sophisticated mystery and a charming glance at a fascinating era.
Library of Congress Crime Classics are published by Poisoned Pen Press, an imprint of Sourcebooks, in association with the Library. “To Catch a Thief” is available in softcover ($15.99) from booksellers worldwide, including the Library of Congress Store.