| Novels↙ | 42 |
|---|---|
| Collections↙ | 9 |
| Plays↙ | 4 |
| Music↙ | 7 |
| Non-fiction↙ | 3 |
| References and footnotes | |
Sax Rohmer (pseudonym of Arthur Henry "Sarsfield" Ward; 1883–1959) was a British writer of songs sketches, plays and stories.[1] Born in Birmingham to Irish immigrant parents, the family moved to London in about 1886, where Rohmer was schooled. His formal education finished in 1901, following the death of his alcoholic mother.[2] After attempting careers in the civil service, as well as the banking, journalism and gas industries, Rohmer began writing comic songs, monologues and sketches for music hall performers, including Little Tich and George Robey.[1][3][4] Rohmer's first book was Pause!, a series of sketches conceived by Robey and written by Rohmer, which was published anonymously in 1910; his second book was the ghost-written biography of Little Tich, published with Tich's real name, Harry Relph.[5]
In 1913 The Mystery of Dr. Fu-Manchu was published, a novel that introduced Dr. Fu Manchu, described by Rohmer as "the yellow peril incarnate in one man".[1] The book brought the author popularity and wealth;[4] in total he wrote 13 Fu Manchu books during his lifetime and, although he killed the character off more than once, public pressure always demanded his return.[6] Fu Manchu is the character with which Rohmer "remains most strongly identified"[1] and was described by Rohmer's biographer Will Murray as one of the literary characters that "has achieved universal acceptance and popularity which will not be forgotten", along with Sherlock Holmes, Tarzan and Dracula.[7] From 1951 onwards, Rohmer published five novels with Sumuru as the central antagonist; she was a female counterpart of Fu Manchu and her novels, too, were both popular and successful.[8]
Rohmer contracted the Asian flu in 1958 and died the following year after related complications.[8] His best-known character has outlived him through numerous film, radio and television interpretations.[1]