The Big Clock

novel by Fearing

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June 22, 2026

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The Big Clock is a novel by Kenneth Fearing, first published in 1946. It was later adapted into a 1948 film noir. The story centers on Earl Janoth, a powerful magazine publisher who commits murder. He then tasks his star reporter, George Stroud, with finding a suspect. Unbeknownst to Janoth, Stroud is the actual killer, and his investigation begins to implicate himself. The novel is known for its suspenseful plot twists and its satirical commentary on urban life and the media industry. Fearing's writing style in his novels, while lacking the passion of his poetry, is noted for its effectiveness and imagination.12

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Kenneth Fearing
His most successful book, The Big Clock (1946; film version, 1948), is a satire about a magazine publisher who commits murder and then sets his top reporter to hunt down a suspect, who is the reporter himself. Fearing’s prose lacks the passion but not the wit of his poetry;…
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His most successful book, The Big Clock (1946; film version, 1948), is a satire about a magazine publisher who commits murder and then sets his top reporter to hunt down a suspect, who is the reporter himself. Fearing’s prose lacks the passion but not the wit of his poetry;…
Read More

The Big Clock
…which was based on a novel by Kenneth Fearing, was acclaimed for its tight editing. The interaction of Laughton and Milland also won critical praise, as did a brief but pivotal supporting performance by Elsa Lanchester, who was Laughton’s offscreen wife. A 1987 remake of the film, a political Cold…
Read More
…which was based on a novel by Kenneth Fearing, was acclaimed for its tight editing. The interaction of Laughton and Milland also won critical praise, as did a brief but pivotal supporting performance by Elsa Lanchester, who was Laughton’s offscreen wife. A 1987 remake of the film, a political Cold…
Read More