"The Glass Key is better than anything Hemingway ever wrote"

This quote by Rex Stout is a testimony to the power of the unique The Glass Key, written by Dashiell Hammett. Stout is applauding the work of Hammett, and suggesting that it is superior to the works of Ernest Hemingway. This is a bold declaration, as Hemingway is among the most renowned authors of the 20th century. Stout is most likely referring to the complexity of Hammett's novel, which is filled with elaborate plot twists and characters that are both ethically ambiguous and deeply flawed. The Glass Key is a classic example of hardboiled investigator fiction, and its influence can be seen in many of the criminal activity books that followed it. Stout's quote is a testimony to the power of Hammett's work, and a reminder that terrific literature can come from unanticipated locations.