"American Pulp Fiction" true crime magazine collection, 1936-1943.

Format:

Other

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Crime--Periodicals.

Crime.

Literature.

Popular culture--United States.

Popular culture.

Women's periodicals, American.

Genre:

Manuscripts, American -- 20th century.

Periodicals.

Penn Provenance:

Sold by Helford Book Gallery, 2018.

Physical Description:

1 box (.5 linear foot)

Place of Publication:

1936-1943.

Biography/History:

Evidence of writings about true crime dates to the 16th century; however, according to an article in the Independent, "the birth of what we now accept to be true crime--detailed reportage of real criminal incidents--[was] 1924, when American publishing magnate Bernarr Macfadden unleashed upon the world a magazine called True detective mysteries," (Barnett). Magazines like this one became increasingly popular during the 1930s through the 1950s. Examples included in this collection are: Crime confessions (published by Hillman Periodicals, Inc. from 1939 to 1957); Official detective / Official detective stories (published by Official Detective Stories, Inc. from 1935 to 1995); Secret detective cases (published by Starlike Magazines, Incorporated from 1942 to 1943); Sensational detective cases (published by Histrionic Publishing Company from 1941 to 1958); and Tru-life detective cases (published by Trysak Publications, Inc. from 1941 to 1948).

Summary:

This collection contains incomplete annual series of several true-crime magazines from the 1930s and 1940s, including Crime confessions, Official detective stories, Secret detective cases, Sensational detective cases, and Tru-life detective cases. They are collected in three binders, under the title "American Pulp Fiction, Volumes 1-3," and are fastened with nylon stockings. These magazines contain stories, purported to be true, of sensational criminal escapades, often with a cautionary or redemptive moral message. As their main audience was female, many of the stories center on women who played a central role in the purported crimes, either as victim or accomplice. In addition, the magazines contain lurid, sensational photographs that pass as documentary evidence of the crimes.

OCLC:

1512368795