James M. Cain: 1892-1977

James M. Cain was born in Annapolis, Maryland on July1, 1892. He studied at Washington College, in Chesterton, Maryland and worked as a clerk, a meat-packer, a singer, and a teacher.

During World War I, in army service, he was the editor of an army newspaper in France and after the war he was Professor of Journalism at St. John's College, Annapolis.

From 1932 to 1947 he lived in Southern California writing for films, but he did not have much success as a filmwriter and he drank too much. Then his first novel, The Postman Always Rings Twice, was published in 1934 and became an instant bestseller.

Cain was very critical of Hollywood's treatment of writers, and he set up the short-lived American Authors' Society to seek better deals with the studios. Many of Cain's novels were turned into movies.

Cain returned to Maryland in 1948, settling in Hyattsville. He was married four times.

James M. Cain died on October 27, 1977, in Hyattsville, Maryland.