Hand Of Power [Paperback]

Edgar Wallace (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 11, 2008

Dr Joshua Laffin wants Betty Carew, whose childhood he tortured with fear, to advertise a desk for sale. For four hours each day she is to sit at it pretending to write, in a shop window laid out like a study. While she acts this role she is told to wait for someone to approach her. Pawter of Pawter Intensive Publicity Services wants Bill Holbrook to find out more. Bill suspects trouble. He claims someone told him that the desk was invented by a butler who was hanged for murdering his wife...

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: 362 pages
• Publisher: House of Stratus (January 11, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 075511499X
• ISBN-13: 978-0755114993
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,087,762 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars The Edgar Wallace Plot Wheel In Action (The Hand of Power), May 13, 2006

By 

Steve S (Framingham, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hand Of Power (Paperback)

Edgar Wallace was one of England's most popular and prolific writer of mysteries. He invented the Edgar Wallace Plot Wheel which included a list of events such as murder, kidnaping, theft, etc. The wheel would get spun and the event fitted into the plot. The cast of characters include a pretty orphan girl with a despotic guardian, a young crime reporter, a penniless Lord, a Scotland Yard Inspector who has never made an arrest, and an amiable burglar who knows too much. Interesting to note that Wallace was abandoned as a baby, and discovered and raised by a London fishmonger. There are plenty of murders, dopings, poisonings, kidnappings, mysterious happenings aboard the Escorial, a magnificent American cruise ship, and lots of treasure including the fabulous Buckle of Isis. A pleasant read with a happy ending.