Chandler was born July 23, 1888.<ref>http://www.biography.com/people/raymond-chandler-9244073</ref> He lived in England with his mother, served in the Canadian army and flying corps during the first World War, returned to California in 1919, and worked as a petroleum executive before the Depression forced him to turn to writing.<ref>"Chandler, Raymond." ''Encyclopedia Britannica Online''.</ref> In 1939, ''The Big Sleep'' became his first major novel about a detective called Philip Marlowe, though he had written some other detective stories.<ref>http://www.famousauthors.org/raymond-chandler</ref> He also worked as a screenwriter before dying on March 26, 1959.<ref>http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/raymond-thornton-chandler-2629.php</ref> | Chandler was born July 23, 1888.<ref>http://www.biography.com/people/raymond-chandler-9244073</ref> He lived in England with his mother, served in the Canadian army and flying corps during the first World War, returned to California in 1919, and worked as a petroleum executive before the Depression forced him to turn to writing.<ref>"Chandler, Raymond." ''Encyclopedia Britannica Online''.</ref> In 1939, ''The Big Sleep'' became his first major novel about a detective called Philip Marlowe, though he had written some other detective stories.<ref>http://www.famousauthors.org/raymond-chandler</ref> He also worked as a screenwriter before dying on March 26, 1959.<ref>http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/raymond-thornton-chandler-2629.php</ref> |