Edgar Wallace was an English writer born on April 1, 1875, in Greenwich, London. Renowned for his prolific output, he is often regarded as the king of the modern thriller. Wallace's beginnings were humble; born into poverty, he was later adopted from a life of hardship by a fish porter. He began his career as a war correspondent for Reuters and the Daily Mail during the Second Boer War, which had an indelible impact on his subsequent literary works. Edgar Wallace's gift for writing serialized novels made him famous. He was a founding member of the British magazine 'The Detective,' which further attested to his influence in the genre of crime fiction. The 'Smithy and Nobby' series, containing collections of humorous short stories about the British military, showcases not only Wallace's versatility but also his ability to imbue his characters with vibrancy and a sense of realism. His literary style combined fast-paced narratives with a masterful grasp of suspense, making his body of work resonate with a wide audience. Although he wrote several books, it's said that he never obtained financial stability, often selling rights to his books to cover his debts. Wallace passed away suddenly in Hollywood in 1932, while working on the screenplay for 'King Kong,' leaving behind an unparalleled legacy with over 170 novels, 18 stage plays, and numerous articles and films adapted from his work.
