The Postman Always Rings Twice
Critique • Quotes • At the movies
First editionFirst publication
1934, United States
Literature form
Novella
Genres
Literary, crime
Writing language
English
Author's country
United States
Length
Approx. 38,000 words
Notable lines
They threw me off the hay truck about noon. I had swung on the night before, down at the border, and as soon as I got up there under the canvas, I went to sleep. I needed plenty of that, after three weeks in Tia Juana, and I was still getting it when they pulled off to one side to let the engine cool. Then they saw a foot sticking out and threw me off.
— First lines
Except for the shape, she really wasn't any raving beauty, but she had a sulky look to her, and her lips stuck out in a way that made me want to mash them in for her.
"And when I began to talk, up there on the screen, they knew me for what I was, and so did I. A cheap Des Moines trollop, that has as much chance in pictures as a monkey has. Not as much. A monkey, anyway, can make you laugh. All I did was make you sick."
Stealing a man's wife, that's nothing, but stealing his car, that's larceny.
I kissed her. Her eyes were shining up at me like two blue stars. It was like being in church.
Father McConnell says prayers help. If you've got this far, send up one for me, and Cora, and make it that we're together, wherever it is.
— Last lines
Critique • Quotes • At the movies
