The Baby in the Icebox: And Other Short Fiction (1933)

Although James M. Cain is largely remembered for his novels of the 1930s and 40s, he started his writing career with short stories. The present work includes most of his published short stories in addition to his novelette, "The Embezzler".

This volume includes some real gems, including "The Baby in the Ice Box" itself, a work which (like "Postman...") expresses Cain's lifelong interest in jungle cats (sneak preview: the baby in the story survives, which is more than can be said of another character). Another is "The Birthday Party", a touchingly sad coming - of - age story that shows how far beyond the noir genre Cain's talents extended. Various other worthy stories are included, although some are mainly of historical interest.

Of particular value to fans of Cain's work are the biographical / historical essays included herein; they were written by Roy Hoopes, who edited this volume and who published a full biography of Cain in 1982. I have learned a lot about Cain from this work, and gained a deeper appreciation for his career as a writer. ( )