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Edgar Wallace
Life Time
1 April 1875 - 10 February 1932
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One of the most popular writers of the early twentieth century. Born in Greenwich, in an acting family. His father Richard Merriot (Walter Wallace) Edgar never saw, he was raised in the family of Dick Freeman. Dropping out of school at the age of 12, he moved from one job to another until 18, after which he entered the army. In 1896, Edgar left for South Africa, where he served in medical units. Here, influenced by fellow writers Reverend and Marion Caldecott, he began writing poetry. After his
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One of the most popular writers of the early twentieth century. Born in Greenwich, in an acting family. His father Richard Merriot (Walter Wallace) Edgar never saw, he was raised in the family of Dick Freeman. Dropping out of school at the age of 12, he moved from one job to another until 18, after which he entered the army. In 1896, Edgar left for South Africa, where he served in medical units. Here, influenced by fellow writers Reverend and Marion Caldecott, he began writing poetry. After his demobilization, Wallace worked as a correspondent for Reuters and the London Daily Mail. The tone and content of his articles did not suit the army leadership, and he was forbidden to write until the outbreak of the First World War.
In 1901, Wallace became editor of a newspaper in Johannesburg. During the Russo-Japanese War he took part in the investigation of the conflict between Russia and Great Britain after the shelling by Russian ships of the British merchant fleet.
Wallace's first novels, which he published in his own publishing house, did not recoup financial costs. Commercial success came to him in the 10s, and in the 20s he became the most published English writer (every fourth book published was his novel). His success he was obliged to colossal efficiency - Wallace dictated his works to the dictaphone, interrupted only for sleep, then ruled the reprinted Secretary material. He wrote 173 novels, 23 plays, and more than 1,000 short stories. Edgar did not interrupt his journalistic activities. Today, the plots of his novels do not look interesting. The investigation in them is noticeably inferior to the description of chases, incredible adventures, etc. But his work continues to be a phenomenon of cinema - 170 films have been staged on the works of Wallace. The writer died in Hollywood while working on the script of the famous “King Kong”. In 1969, Penelope, the writer’s daughter, founded the Wallace International Society, which is now run by the writer’s granddaughter.