Who is Philip Marlowe

Raymond Thornton Chandler was born in Chicago in 1888, and moved to London with his mother in 1900 after his alcoholic father abandoned them. They were supported by his uncle, a succesful lawyer. Chandler received a classical education at Dulwich College, and in 1907, becoming a naturalised British Citizen, he took the Civil service exam, passing with the third highest score. He worked for the Admiralty for a year, published poetry and wrote book reviews but had little financial success. In 1912, Chandler returned to the United States. Working odd jobs, he put himself through nightschool, eventually becoming a bookkeeper for an Oil Syndicate. By 1929, he was vice-president. However his womanising and drinking cost him his job during the Great Depression. It was then that he decided to write pulp fiction. His first and best-known Philip Marlowe novel, 'The Big Sleep', was published in 1939.

"I was neat, clean, shaved and sober, and I didn't care who knew it." The Big Sleep (1939)

"I took my dark glasses off and tapped them delicately on the inside of my left wrist. If you can weigh a hundred and ninety pounds and look like a fairy, I was doing my best." The Big Sleep (1939)

"All she did was take her hand out of her bag, with a gun in it. All she did was point it at me and smile. All I did was nothing. " Farewell My Lovely (1940)

"I'm a licensed private investigator and have been for quite a while. I'm a lone wolf, unmarried, getting middle-aged and not rich. I've been in jail more than once and I don't do divorce business. I like liquor and women and chess and a few other things. The cops don't like me too well, but I know a couple I get along with. " The Long Good-bye (1953)

"I belonged in Idle Valley like a pearl onion on a banana split." The Long Goodbye (1953)

Finger Man" (1934), (short story): the narrator, originally named 'Carmady' later renamed Marlowe.
"Goldfish" (1936), (short story): character of 'Carmady' later renamed Marlowe.
"Red Wind" (1938), (short story): character of 'John Dalmas' later renamed Marlowe.
"Trouble Is My Business" (1939) (short story): character of 'John Dalmas' later renamed Marlowe.
The Big Sleep (1939)
Farewell, My Lovely (1940)
The High Window (1942)
The Lady in the Lake (1943)
The Little Sister (1949)
The Simple Art of Murder (1950) (collection of short stories)
The Long Goodbye (1953)
Playback (1958)
Poodle Springs (Chandler left this unfinished when he died; completed by Robert B. Parker, 1989)
"The Pencil" (AKA 'Marlowe Takes On the Syndicate', 'Wrong Pigeon', and 'Philip Marlowe's Last Case') (1959), (short story): Chandler's last completed work about Marlowe.

Radio Series
'Adventures of Philip Marlowe' Half-hour radio show - NBC (6/12/47-8/5/47), CBS (9/26/48-9/15/51) Van Heflin played Marlowe.

TV Series
'Philip Marlowe' (1959-1960) half-hour ABC series. Philip Carey starred as Marlowe.

'Philip Marlowe, Private Eye' HBO series (1983 - 1986.) Powers Boothe starred as Marlowe.