Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace

Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) was an English crime writer, journalist, playwright, and one of the most prolific popular authors of the early twentieth century. His major works include The Four Just Men, The Ringer, Sanders of the River, and many thrillers, detective stories, and plays. He also contributed to the early story development of King Kong shortly before his death. Wallace mattered because he helped shape modern crime and thriller fiction through pace, suspense, formula, and immense productivity. A former war correspondent and newspaper man, he understood sensational plot and public appetite. His reputation is popular rather than literary in the narrow sense, but his influence on genre entertainment is substantial. His quotes endure because they carry the brisk wit of a writer alert to intellect, appetite, and social performance.

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