Edgar Wallace, born Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace on April 1, 1875, in London, was a prolific British writer and journalist, whose literary career spanned a variety of genres, including crime, adventure, and reportage. Having left school at the age of 12, Wallace initially pursued multiple occupations before finding his true calling in journalism. His career as a war correspondent provided him substantial exposure, which he used to transition into novel writing. 'The Nine Bears,' which is sometimes known under the alternative title 'Silinski - Master Criminal,' is a testament to his hallmark rapid writing style and predilection for crime mysteries.
Wallace's narratives were renowned for their exciting plots and engaging character development, often set in the intertwining spheres of journalism, crime, and the underbelly of cities. He possessed a unique ability to produce work at a remarkable speed, claiming to complete a book in just 72 hours-a rate that contributed to his incredibly vast bibliography of over 170 novels, 18 stage plays, and numerous articles and short stories. His works contributed significantly to the genre of thriller and were precursors to modern suspense and action novels. Edgar Wallace passed away suddenly from pneumonia on February 10, 1932, leaving behind a legacy that remains influential in the crime and thriller literary genres to this day.
