Edgar Wallace
Prolific British thriller writer and screenwriter of King Kong.
via Wikipedia: Edgar Wallace · see source
Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace (1 April 1875 – 10 February 1932) was a British writer of crime and adventure fiction. Born into poverty as an illegitimate London child, he left school at age 12. He joined the army at 21 and became a war correspondent during the Second Boer War for Reuters and the Daily Mail. Struggling with debt, he returned to London and began writing thrillers, publishing The Four Just Men (1905). Drawing on his time as a reporter in the Congo covering Belgian atrocities, he serialised short stories in magazines and later published collections such as Sanders of the River (1911). He signed with Hodder & Stoughton in 1921 and became an internationally recognised author. After an unsuccessful bid to stand as Liberal MP for Blackpool in 1931, he moved to Hollywood to work as a script writer for RKO. He died suddenly from undiagnosed diabetes during the initial drafting of King Kong (1933).
- born
- 1 April 1875, Greenwich, London
- died
- 10 February 1932, Hollywood, California
- field
- Crime and adventure fiction, journalism, screenwriting
- nationality
- British
- known_for
- The Four Just Men, Sanders of the River, J. G. Reeder stories, Green Archer seri
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Wallace was such a prolific writer that one of his publishers claimed a quarter of all books in England were written by him. He wrote over 170 novels, 957 short stories, 18 stage plays, screen plays, poetry, and historical non-fiction—12 novels in 1929 alone. More than 160 films have been made of his work. He sold over 50 million copies of his combined works, and The Economist in 1997 described him as 'one of the most prolific thriller writers of [the 20th] century'. Although the great majority of his books are out of print in the UK, they are very popular in Germany, with around 50 titles still in print. A 50-minute German TV documentary was made in 1963 called The Edgar Wallace Story, which featured his son Bryan Edgar Wallace. He is remembered for 'the colonial imagination', the J. G. Reeder detective stories, and the Green Archer serial.
Reader's Guide
Wallace's first book of ballads, The Mission that Failed!, was published in 1898. Unable to find a backer for his first novel, he set up his own Tallis Press to issue The Four Just Men (1905). Despite good sales, the project was financially mismanaged, and he had to be bailed out by the Mail's proprietor Alfred Harmsworth. In 1907, he travelled to the Congo Free State to report on atrocities committed under King Leopold II, in which up to 15 million Congolese were killed. Isabel Thorne of the Weekly Tale-Teller invited him to serialise stories inspired by his experiences, published as his first collection Sanders of the River (1911), a best seller. He went on to publish 11 more similar collections (102 stories). Critic David Pringle noted in 1987: 'The Sanders Books are not frequently reprinted nowadays, perhaps because of their overt racism'. Wallace signed with Hodder & Stoughton in 1921, organising his contracts to allow advances and royalties. He stood unsuccessfully as a Liberal MP for Blackpool in the 1931 general election, then moved to Hollywood to work as a script writer for RKO. He died suddenly from undiagnosed diabetes during the initial drafting of King Kong (1933).
Did You Know?
- Wallace registered in the British Army under the name Edgar Wallace, after the author of Ben-Hur, Lew Wallace.
- He set up his own publishing company, Tallis Press, to issue The Four Just Men (1905) after failing to find a backer.
- Wallace was the first reporter ever to be fired from the Daily Mail, in 1907, due to inaccuracies in his reporting that led to libel suits.
- His publisher claimed that a quarter of all books in England were written by him.
- A 50-minute German TV documentary called The Edgar Wallace Story was made in 1963, featuring his son Bryan Edgar Wallace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Edgar Wallace?
Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace was a British novelist, journalist, and screenwriter born in Greenwich, London, in 1875. He became one of the most prolific thriller writers of the twentieth century, producing over 170 novels, nearly a thousand short stories, and 18 stage plays before dying in Hollywood in 1932.
What are Edgar Wallace's most famous works?
His best-known creations include The Four Just Men, the Sanders of the River adventure series, and the J. G. Reeder detective stories. He also wrote the Green Archer serial and is credited with drafting the initial screenplay for King Kong.
How did Edgar Wallace start his writing career?
Born into poverty as an illegitimate child, he left school at twelve and eventually found his way into journalism. His experience as a war correspondent during the Second Boer War sharpened his storytelling instincts and set him on the path to a full-time career in fiction.
How many films were based on Edgar Wallace's work?
More than 160 films were adapted from his novels, short stories, and plays, making him one of the most frequently screen-adapted authors of his era. This extraordinary output cemented his influence on the crime and adventure genres in early Hollywood.
Why is Edgar Wallace considered important to mystery and crime writing?
His sheer volume of output—spanning detective fiction, adventure serials, and thriller novels—helped define the commercial crime genre in the early 1900s. Characters like J. G. Reeder and the Four Just Men became iconic figures in British and American popular fiction, and his screenwriting work on King Kong extended his reach well beyond the page.
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