Feathered Serpent [Paperback]

Edgar Wallace (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 11, 2008

Reporter Peter Derwin suspects the card mysteriously left in the handbag of actress Ella Creed is a publicity stunt. But Joe Farmer, the boxing promoter, has received one too. Then, after leaving the house of millionaire philanthropist and African explorer Gregory Beale, Daphne Olroyd is followed: she is at her employers' offices when Leicester Crewe opens the front door. A dead man falls into the hall. In his hand is the card of The Feathered Serpent.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace was born illegitimately in Greenwich, London, in 1875to actors Mary Jane Richards and T. H. Edgar. As an infant he wasadopted by George Freeman, a porter at Billingsgate fish market. Aged eleven, Wallace sold newspapers at Ludgate Circus and upon leaving school took a job with a printer. He later enlisted in the Royal West Kent Regiment, beforetransferring to the Medical Staff Corps, and was sent to South Africa. In 1898 he published a collection of poems called The Mission that Failed, and subsequently left the army to become acorrespondent for Reuters.South African war correspondent for The Daily Mail followed and hisarticles were later published as Unofficial Dispatches. His outspokenness infuriated Lord Kitchener, who removed his credentialsas a war correspondent. He thenedited the Rand Daily Mail, but gambled disastrously on the South African Stock Market. Returning to England, he at first reportedon crimes and hanging trials, before becomingeditor of The Evening News. It was in 1905 that he founded the Tallis Press, publishing Smithy, a collection of soldier stories, and The Four Just Men. The latter waspublished with the ending removed as anadvertising stunt and he offered £500 to readers who could successfully guess the ending. Unfortunately, many did and he was almost bankrupted. At various times Wallacealso worked as a journalist on The Standard, The Star, The Week-End Racing Supplement and The Story Journal. In 1917, he became a Special Constable at Lincoln's Inn and also a special interrogator for the War Office. The Daily Mail sent Wallace to investigate atrocities in the Belgian Congo, a trip that provided material for his Sanders of the River books. In 1923 he became Chairman of the Press Club and in 1931 stood as a Liberal Parliamentary candidatefor Blackpool. mHis first marriage in 1901 to Ivy Caldecott, daughter of a missionary, ended in divorce in 1918 and he later married his much younger secretary, Violet King. Along with countlessarticles, some 23 screenplays and many short stories,Wallacewrote more than 170 books, which have been translated into 28 languages and sales of which have exceeded 50 million copies. Over 160 films have been made from his books - more than any other author. In the 1920's one of Wallace's many publishers claimed that a quarter of all books read in England were written by him. His sales were exceeded only by The Bible. He died in 1932 whilst workingon the screenplay for King Kong,

Product Details

• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: House of Stratus (January 11, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0755114914
• ISBN-13: 978-0755114917
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,832,754 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Late Edgar Wallace thriller, June 10, 2008

By 

Hal Jordan "A reader" (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: The Feathered Serpent (Retro Reads) (Paperback)

From the copyright date, it appears that Wallace published this novel near the end of his life. If it wasn't his last book, it must have been nearly so. It's a presentable mystery with a bit of romance thrown in. The murderer is fairly obvious early on, but I still found the story enjoyable. Wallace included some intentional self-parody, as when the characters several times remark that a particular turn of events was worthy of being included in a fictional thriller. This edition is very handsome with the cover reproducing what I assume must have been the original dust jacket.

At one time, Edgar Wallace was I believe the best selling novelist in the world. Today he is largely forgotten and most of his books are out of print, at least in the United States. So, if you have never read him, this book is a reasonable place to start.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dated but entertaining murder-mystery, June 13, 2009

By 

Peter Hoogenboom "Film, Music & Book lover" (New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Feathered Serpent (Paperback)

Old-fashioned (1930s) murder mystery. Well-written and entertaining if a little humourless. The politeness of all concerned date it badly but also provide it with an endearing quaintness.