Earliest Examples of Hardboiled

       
         The short-story 'The Killers' by Ernest Hemingway first appeared in 1927 followed by Dasheill Hammet's novel 'Red Harvest' in1929. Also Black Mask featured prototype versions of hardboiled stuff possibly as early as 1923.

       Hemingway wrote many other great examples in short story form such as ' A Clean Well lighted Place' with a heavy Noirish atmosphere.

                                           Hammett's desk & view from his apartment