I don’t know how many books I’ve read that were published in the 1930a, but the straightforwardness of the desire in this novel was... not shocking, but surprising. Drifter Frank Chambers and truck stop owner Cora Papadakis are both restless, grasping, and even desperate for a different kind of life, Frank for a life unfettered by conventional expectations and Cora for material success. They share a physical hunger for one another, but ultimately although they know their desires will make them incompatible, they are powerless to resist one another; the only thing standing in their way is Cora’s husband Nick. The novel is short, speedy, and uses simple language to recount their tragic relationship. I would recommend Cain’s novel to writing instructors as a compelling example of voice. I know it’s not read much anymore, but for devotees of film noir and pulp fiction, it is a must-read.