Edgar Wallace: Difference between revisions
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Famous writer of thrillers and crime fiction | 1 April 1875 (Greenwich) - 10 February 1932 (Hollywood). | ||
Famous writer of thrillers and crime fiction. | |||
==Life and Career== | ==Life and Career== | ||
Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace was born to the unmarried actress Polly Richards. After a few days, he was adopted by George and Clara Freeman living in Billingsgate. George Freeman was a fishmonger. Edgar Wallace was brought up under the name Dick Freeman. The Freemans lived in poor living conditions and Wallace only had minor school education. However, he was excited by the theatre and by plays at an early age. He spent the money he earned, which was not much, for theatre tickets. | Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace was born to the unmarried actress Polly Richards. After a few days, he was adopted by George and Clara Freeman living in Billingsgate. George Freeman was a fishmonger. Edgar Wallace was brought up under the name Dick Freeman. The Freemans lived in poor living conditions and Wallace only had minor school education. However, he was excited by the theatre and by plays at an early age. He spent the money he earned, which was not much, for theatre tickets. | ||
Later, Wallace became a soldier for some years and also had a medical education. As a soldier, he already started to write | Later, Wallace became a soldier for some years and also had a medical education. As a soldier, he already started to write. The texts were sometimes printed in papers or magazines. During the [[Boer war|Boer War]] in South Africa, Wallace became a correspondent for the ''Daily Mail''. He also got to know his first wife Ivy Caldecott in South Africa. They married in 1898. His experiences later inspired him for writing ''Sanders of the River'' (1911), a novel set in Africa. Wallace returned to London in 1900 and worked again as a correspondent and also as a reporter. Besides, he wrote his first thriller ''The Four Just Men'' (1905). The novel was successful, however, he had financial problems because he founded his own press to publish it. Wallace was also active as playwright, but not as successful as he was as a novelist. Moreover, he was editor of different papers for some time. | ||
Wallace’s wife divorced | Wallace’s wife divorced him in 1918. In 1921, he married his second wife, Violet King, who had worked for him as secretary since 1915. His famous crime novels were turned into sound films beginning in 1931 with ''The Squeaker''. Shortly before his death, Wallace went to Hollywood in order to write screenplays. He was involved in writing the screenplay for the film ''King Kong'' (1933). He died in 1932 due to pneumonia and diabetes which was not treated. Due to his spendthrift way of life and the fact that he bet on horses, Wallace was highly indebted when he died. | ||
==Reception== | ==Reception== | ||
Wallace is one of the most well-known British authors of crime fiction. Moreover, he developed the genre of the thriller as his novels are characterized by highly electrifying storylines. 175 novels are translated into 44 languages. He also wrote 15 plays and many articles and reviews. Since the late 1950s, many novels by Wallace were turned into movies in Germany. The series was very successful as famous actors like Klaus Kinski, Joachim Fuchsberger and Gert Fröbe were part of it. | Wallace is one of the most well-known British authors of crime fiction. Moreover, he developed the genre of the thriller as his novels are characterized by highly electrifying storylines. 175 novels are translated into 44 languages. He also wrote 15 plays and many articles and reviews. Since the late 1950s, many novels by Wallace were turned into movies in Germany. The series was very successful as famous actors like Klaus Kinski, Joachim Fuchsberger and Gert Fröbe were part of it. | ||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
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http://www.edgarwallace.org/, accessed 15 January 2012. | http://www.edgarwallace.org/, accessed 15 January 2012. | ||
http:// | http://1686.homepagemodules.de/f2290130-Edgar-Wallace-Forum.html, accessed 9 December 2015. | ||
http://www.whoswho.de/templ/te_bio.php?PID=514&RID=1, accessed 15 January 2012. | http://www.whoswho.de/templ/te_bio.php?PID=514&RID=1, accessed 15 January 2012. | ||
"Edgar Wallace." ''Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.'' Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 15 Jan. 2012. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/634759/Edgar-Wallace>. | "Edgar Wallace." ''Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.'' Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 15 Jan. 2012. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/634759/Edgar-Wallace>. | ||
Latest revision as of 14:15, 9 December 2015
1 April 1875 (Greenwich) - 10 February 1932 (Hollywood). Famous writer of thrillers and crime fiction.
Life and Career
Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace was born to the unmarried actress Polly Richards. After a few days, he was adopted by George and Clara Freeman living in Billingsgate. George Freeman was a fishmonger. Edgar Wallace was brought up under the name Dick Freeman. The Freemans lived in poor living conditions and Wallace only had minor school education. However, he was excited by the theatre and by plays at an early age. He spent the money he earned, which was not much, for theatre tickets.
Later, Wallace became a soldier for some years and also had a medical education. As a soldier, he already started to write. The texts were sometimes printed in papers or magazines. During the Boer War in South Africa, Wallace became a correspondent for the Daily Mail. He also got to know his first wife Ivy Caldecott in South Africa. They married in 1898. His experiences later inspired him for writing Sanders of the River (1911), a novel set in Africa. Wallace returned to London in 1900 and worked again as a correspondent and also as a reporter. Besides, he wrote his first thriller The Four Just Men (1905). The novel was successful, however, he had financial problems because he founded his own press to publish it. Wallace was also active as playwright, but not as successful as he was as a novelist. Moreover, he was editor of different papers for some time.
Wallace’s wife divorced him in 1918. In 1921, he married his second wife, Violet King, who had worked for him as secretary since 1915. His famous crime novels were turned into sound films beginning in 1931 with The Squeaker. Shortly before his death, Wallace went to Hollywood in order to write screenplays. He was involved in writing the screenplay for the film King Kong (1933). He died in 1932 due to pneumonia and diabetes which was not treated. Due to his spendthrift way of life and the fact that he bet on horses, Wallace was highly indebted when he died.
Reception
Wallace is one of the most well-known British authors of crime fiction. Moreover, he developed the genre of the thriller as his novels are characterized by highly electrifying storylines. 175 novels are translated into 44 languages. He also wrote 15 plays and many articles and reviews. Since the late 1950s, many novels by Wallace were turned into movies in Germany. The series was very successful as famous actors like Klaus Kinski, Joachim Fuchsberger and Gert Fröbe were part of it.
Sources
Lane, Margaret. Edgar Wallace. Das Leben eines Phänomen. Hamburg: Krüger, 1966.
http://www.edgarwallace.org/, accessed 15 January 2012.
http://1686.homepagemodules.de/f2290130-Edgar-Wallace-Forum.html, accessed 9 December 2015.
http://www.whoswho.de/templ/te_bio.php?PID=514&RID=1, accessed 15 January 2012.
"Edgar Wallace." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 15 Jan. 2012. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/634759/Edgar-Wallace>.