"Genuinely fascinating reading."--The New York Times Book Review
"Diverting and patently authoritative."--The New Yorker
"Grand and fascinating ... a history, a compendium and a critical study all in one, and all first rate."--Rex Stout
"A landmark ... a brilliant study written with charm and authority."--Ellery Queen
"This book is of permanent value. It should be on the shelf of every reader of detective stories."--Erle...