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Arcașul Verde
Edgar Wallace, prolific scriitor de gen politist, realizeaza in romanul sau, Arcasul Verde, o impresionanta si palpitanta lectura de aventura. Cu mult talent imbina firul politist al desfasurarii evenimentelor, lasand tensiunea sa ajunga la paroxism, cu o sensibila poveste de iubire. Deznodamantul cartii califica lucrarea drept deosebit de atractiva si incitanta.
A beautiful girl looking for the mother from whom she was stolen as a baby, her kindly foster-father, a redheaded journalist, a very secret policeman who is also a master of disguise, an Anglo-Indian petty criminal and his wife, assorted villains and, at the centre of it all, Abel Bellamy, a very ugly, very rich man who's bought a castle near Reading. Running through it all is the mysterious Green Archer, the castle's ghost, who appears to be walking once more.
A beautiful girl looking for the mother from whom she was stolen as a baby, her kindly foster-father, a redheaded journalist, a very secret policeman who is also a master of disguise, an Anglo-Indian petty criminal and his wife, assorted villains and, at the centre of it all, Abel Bellamy, a very ugly, very rich man who's bought a castle near Reading. Running through it all is the mysterious Green Archer, the castle's ghost, who appears to be walking once more.
456 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1923
20 people are currently reading
249 people want to read
About the author
Edgar Wallace
1,722 books260 followersRichard Horatio Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) was a prolific British crime writer, journalist and playwright, who wrote 175 novels, 24 plays, and countless articles in newspapers and journals.
Over 160 films have been made of his novels, more than any other author. In the 1920s, one of Wallace's publishers claimed that a quarter of all books read in England were written by him.
He is most famous today as the co-creator of "King Kong", writing the early screenplay and story for the movie, as well as a short story "King Kong" (1933) credited to him and Draycott Dell. He was known for the J. G. Reeder detective stories, The Four Just Men, the Ringer, and for creating the Green Archer character during his lifetime.
Over 160 films have been made of his novels, more than any other author. In the 1920s, one of Wallace's publishers claimed that a quarter of all books read in England were written by him.
He is most famous today as the co-creator of "King Kong", writing the early screenplay and story for the movie, as well as a short story "King Kong" (1933) credited to him and Draycott Dell. He was known for the J. G. Reeder detective stories, The Four Just Men, the Ringer, and for creating the Green Archer character during his lifetime.
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March 1, 2021On the one hand, this is utter pulp tosh with an American gangster, a castle, secret death dungeons, lost children, weird coincidences, and someone dressed up as a Robin Hood ghost to kill people with arrows because of course he does. Rattles along nicely. Amiable policeman gets a fairly perfunctory romance.
But then. There's a character, Julius, who is Eurasian with quite a lot of casually racist remarks thereon, who is shown to be a criminal and a seedy sidling weaselly sort, and is married to a somewhat tarty woman thief, Fay. And Julius and Fay quietly and magnificently become the heroes of the book. They're courageous, do the right things when it's the kind of right and wrong that offends them, clever, competent, and in no way 'good guys in disguise' because they stay criminals and have absolutely no plans to reform. Fay specifically says she'd rather be a thief than scrub floors for rich people.
And their marriage is adorable. It's probably the most realistic loving relationship I've read from Wallace, which granted isn't saying much, but they are clear-sighted about each other's flaws, make a brilliant team, and adore each other without getting soppy. We stan Fay and Julius.
What I'm saying is, sometimes, when Wallace bypassed the bluff empire-building bullshit masculinity part of his brain and got interested in the people, he could write damn good stuff. Or to put it another way: you get better books when the author's worldview isn't constricted by prejudices and inability to see people as human. Duh.
But then. There's a character, Julius, who is Eurasian with quite a lot of casually racist remarks thereon, who is shown to be a criminal and a seedy sidling weaselly sort, and is married to a somewhat tarty woman thief, Fay. And Julius and Fay quietly and magnificently become the heroes of the book. They're courageous, do the right things when it's the kind of right and wrong that offends them, clever, competent, and in no way 'good guys in disguise' because they stay criminals and have absolutely no plans to reform. Fay specifically says she'd rather be a thief than scrub floors for rich people.
And their marriage is adorable. It's probably the most realistic loving relationship I've read from Wallace, which granted isn't saying much, but they are clear-sighted about each other's flaws, make a brilliant team, and adore each other without getting soppy. We stan Fay and Julius.
What I'm saying is, sometimes, when Wallace bypassed the bluff empire-building bullshit masculinity part of his brain and got interested in the people, he could write damn good stuff. Or to put it another way: you get better books when the author's worldview isn't constricted by prejudices and inability to see people as human. Duh.
February 18, 2015
Enjoyable, and Brings Back Old Memories
What a treat! It’s been probably more than 25 years since I last picked up an Edgar Wallace novel, and – by the way – how dismally it strikes my consciousness that I am talking of a quarter of a century here, but let’s get back to the book.
Now, Edgar Wallace is probably more widely known in Germany than in England, and anybody my generation will remember those Tuesday nights when the ZDF was showing those deliciously campy black and white movies – mind you, I didn’t think them campy at the time but took them seriously – starring Joachim Fuchsberger, Heinz Drache, Klaus Kinski and, unforgettably, Eddie Arent – movies which were, more or less carefully based on crime novels written by Wallace, and which often began with a string of shots, followed by a steel-like voice proclaiming, “Hallo, hier spricht Edgar Wallace.”
Re-reading “The Green Archer” surely was a guilty pleasure for me even though Wallace’s style is infinitely less intriguing than that of American hard-boiled writers such as Cain or, especially, but then we’re talking of a poet here: Chandler. On the other hand, you should not forget that Wallace used to speak his novels on a kind of Dictaphone for his secretary to type them, often in the course of three or four days, during which time he closeted himself, smoking vast quantities of cigarettes and drinking even vaster quantities of tea. He hardly ever bothered editing what he had written, and that’s why he had such a tremendous output. And wow! these stories do have a pace! Nearly every chapter of “The Green Archer” ended with a cliff-hanger so that I found it nearly impossible to put the book aside. The characters may be trite and interchangeable, and Abel Bellamy may be too sinister a villain to be taken seriously – that is, unless he is plotting to shut you up in one of his clandestine dungeons – and the murderer disguising as a ghost, the eponymous Green Archer, may also be a wholly unmotivated plot device, but somehow the novel had me riveted, and I’d say, “Keep your parlour game playing Agatha Christie, and let me explore the seedy nightclubs of 1920s London or go on a ride on the nocturnal Thames with Edgar Wallace instead, any old time, and I’ll be satisfied!”
And the best thing is that two or three days after reading a Wallace novel, you have completely forgotten about the details!
What a treat! It’s been probably more than 25 years since I last picked up an Edgar Wallace novel, and – by the way – how dismally it strikes my consciousness that I am talking of a quarter of a century here, but let’s get back to the book.
Now, Edgar Wallace is probably more widely known in Germany than in England, and anybody my generation will remember those Tuesday nights when the ZDF was showing those deliciously campy black and white movies – mind you, I didn’t think them campy at the time but took them seriously – starring Joachim Fuchsberger, Heinz Drache, Klaus Kinski and, unforgettably, Eddie Arent – movies which were, more or less carefully based on crime novels written by Wallace, and which often began with a string of shots, followed by a steel-like voice proclaiming, “Hallo, hier spricht Edgar Wallace.”
Re-reading “The Green Archer” surely was a guilty pleasure for me even though Wallace’s style is infinitely less intriguing than that of American hard-boiled writers such as Cain or, especially, but then we’re talking of a poet here: Chandler. On the other hand, you should not forget that Wallace used to speak his novels on a kind of Dictaphone for his secretary to type them, often in the course of three or four days, during which time he closeted himself, smoking vast quantities of cigarettes and drinking even vaster quantities of tea. He hardly ever bothered editing what he had written, and that’s why he had such a tremendous output. And wow! these stories do have a pace! Nearly every chapter of “The Green Archer” ended with a cliff-hanger so that I found it nearly impossible to put the book aside. The characters may be trite and interchangeable, and Abel Bellamy may be too sinister a villain to be taken seriously – that is, unless he is plotting to shut you up in one of his clandestine dungeons – and the murderer disguising as a ghost, the eponymous Green Archer, may also be a wholly unmotivated plot device, but somehow the novel had me riveted, and I’d say, “Keep your parlour game playing Agatha Christie, and let me explore the seedy nightclubs of 1920s London or go on a ride on the nocturnal Thames with Edgar Wallace instead, any old time, and I’ll be satisfied!”
And the best thing is that two or three days after reading a Wallace novel, you have completely forgotten about the details!
December 15, 2015
3.5
Entertaining old school mystery.
A Project Gutenberg Australia eBook
Entertaining old school mystery.
A Project Gutenberg Australia eBook
October 14, 2021
Content warning:
Includes--as descriptors, nouns, and/or insults--the terms Ch*nks, negroes, Eurasian, Chinamen, coloured, Portugooses, dago, coon, and n*gger.
Includes--as descriptors, nouns, and/or insults--the terms Ch*nks, negroes, Eurasian, Chinamen, coloured, Portugooses, dago, coon, and n*gger.
August 5, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 23, 2012
It's kinda like..
You are eleven or twelve years old. You just received a 'D' on your report card. Your teacher says, you could do better if you weren't always distracted by talking to your friends or day dreaming about sports. Your father is on a business trip. He will be back tomorrow, he doesn't know about it, ..yet. Your mom has not been happy.
It's a week-night, it's late, way past your bed time. Your friends told you about this really neat movie on the late show. You waited until your mom went upstairs turned out the lights and started snoring, lightly ..she can be a good mom, at times.
You sneak downstairs, you turn on the TV. You maintain a vigilant control over the volume control. ...here comes the good part ..you can't miss the good part, you've worked too hard. But upstairs, you hear your mom moving about. If she's going to the hall bathroom, you'll probably make it. If she comes down stairs, you're cooked.
Dad's going to be home tomorrow ..you're already in trouble, lot's of trouble. You listen carefully for her footsteps ..what's she up to, what's going to happen ..to you?
It's like that ..nostalgic, ..like goosebumps on a preteen.
You are eleven or twelve years old. You just received a 'D' on your report card. Your teacher says, you could do better if you weren't always distracted by talking to your friends or day dreaming about sports. Your father is on a business trip. He will be back tomorrow, he doesn't know about it, ..yet. Your mom has not been happy.
It's a week-night, it's late, way past your bed time. Your friends told you about this really neat movie on the late show. You waited until your mom went upstairs turned out the lights and started snoring, lightly ..she can be a good mom, at times.
You sneak downstairs, you turn on the TV. You maintain a vigilant control over the volume control. ...here comes the good part ..you can't miss the good part, you've worked too hard. But upstairs, you hear your mom moving about. If she's going to the hall bathroom, you'll probably make it. If she comes down stairs, you're cooked.
Dad's going to be home tomorrow ..you're already in trouble, lot's of trouble. You listen carefully for her footsteps ..what's she up to, what's going to happen ..to you?
It's like that ..nostalgic, ..like goosebumps on a preteen.
May 28, 2011
This is very good. An amoral rich man who likes to build dungeons in his house meets his match: An archer dressed entirely in green.
It is actually very suspenseful. If you like Wallace, you will like this one.
It is actually very suspenseful. If you like Wallace, you will like this one.
January 3, 2014
Excellent mystery, kidnapping, secret passages!
June 17, 2020
Uninspired plotting, dopey characters, and casually racist.
November 30, 2021
Spike Holland mâzgăli ultimul cuvânt pe ultima foaie a articolului său, trase două linii orizontale pentru a atrage atenţia tuturor celor interesaţi că acesta e sfârşitul şi ţinti cu tocul în rama ferestrei. Peniţa se înfipse, iar tocul decolorat tremură o clipă.
― Nicio altă mână nedemnă nu va mai comite o literatură atât de josnică cu instrumentul fanteziei mele ― spuse el.
Celălalt reporter care se afla cu el în cameră ridică privirea spre Spike.
― Despre ce-ai scris?
― Despre expoziţia de câini de ieri ― răspunse Spike calm. Tot ce ştiu despre câini e că la un capăt latră, iar la celălalt dau din coadă. Syme m-a trimis. Zice că un reporter de crime trebuie să ştie şi ce-i ăla un câine poliţist. Mintea lui Syme lucrează prin ricoşeu. El nu ia lucrurile cum sunt în realitate, gândeşte prin sugestii. Adu-i un reportaj senzaţional despre o spargere la o bancă şi te trezeşti că-ţi cere să-i scrii un articol despre ce mănâncă la prânz directorii de bancă. Celălalt reporter îşi împinse scaunul înapoi.
― E un mod de a gândi pe care-l întâlneşti aproape pretutindeni ― spuse el. Îndrăznesc să afirm că cei din breasla noastră par obtuzi şi bătuţi în cap în comparaţie cu confraţii americani.
― Nici gând ― răspunse Spike prompt. Toţi cei care stau la birou formează o rasă aparte şi sunt incapabili din fire să vadă lucrurile cu ochii unui reporter de teren. Cu alte cuvinte, nu sunt destul de normali. Ascultă-mă pe mine. Singura diferenţă dintre redactorii englezi şi cei americani e de nomenclatură. Toţi gândesc prin ricoşeu.
Suspină şi îşi sui picioarele pe birou. Spike era un tânăr pistruiat, cu o claie de păr roşu.
― Expoziţiile de câini sunt desigur interesante… ― începu el din nou, când uşa se deschise violent şi un om într-o cămaşă cu mâneci scurte le aruncă o privire feroce prin nişte ochelari uriaşi.
― Spike, am nevoie de tine. Ce treabă ai acum?
― Mă duc să-l văd pe acel Wood în legătură cu căminul de copii. Iau masa cu el.
― Poate să aştepte.
Îi făcu un semn cu mâna şi Spike îl urmă în cămăruţa pe care o ocupa acesta.
― Îl cunoşti pe Abel Bellamy, tipul ăla de la Chicago… milionarul?
― Abe? Mda… A murit? întrebă Spike plin de speranţe. Nu face să scrii despre el decât atunci când nu te mai poate da în judecată pentru defăimare.
― Îl cunoşti bine? întrebă Syme.
― Ştiu că-i din Chicago, că a câştigat milioane cu construcţiile şi că e un tip dur. Locuieşte în Anglia de vreo opt-nouă ani. Mi se pare că… şi-a cumpărat un castel în toată regula… şi că are un şofer mut…
― Nicio altă mână nedemnă nu va mai comite o literatură atât de josnică cu instrumentul fanteziei mele ― spuse el.
Celălalt reporter care se afla cu el în cameră ridică privirea spre Spike.
― Despre ce-ai scris?
― Despre expoziţia de câini de ieri ― răspunse Spike calm. Tot ce ştiu despre câini e că la un capăt latră, iar la celălalt dau din coadă. Syme m-a trimis. Zice că un reporter de crime trebuie să ştie şi ce-i ăla un câine poliţist. Mintea lui Syme lucrează prin ricoşeu. El nu ia lucrurile cum sunt în realitate, gândeşte prin sugestii. Adu-i un reportaj senzaţional despre o spargere la o bancă şi te trezeşti că-ţi cere să-i scrii un articol despre ce mănâncă la prânz directorii de bancă. Celălalt reporter îşi împinse scaunul înapoi.
― E un mod de a gândi pe care-l întâlneşti aproape pretutindeni ― spuse el. Îndrăznesc să afirm că cei din breasla noastră par obtuzi şi bătuţi în cap în comparaţie cu confraţii americani.
― Nici gând ― răspunse Spike prompt. Toţi cei care stau la birou formează o rasă aparte şi sunt incapabili din fire să vadă lucrurile cu ochii unui reporter de teren. Cu alte cuvinte, nu sunt destul de normali. Ascultă-mă pe mine. Singura diferenţă dintre redactorii englezi şi cei americani e de nomenclatură. Toţi gândesc prin ricoşeu.
Suspină şi îşi sui picioarele pe birou. Spike era un tânăr pistruiat, cu o claie de păr roşu.
― Expoziţiile de câini sunt desigur interesante… ― începu el din nou, când uşa se deschise violent şi un om într-o cămaşă cu mâneci scurte le aruncă o privire feroce prin nişte ochelari uriaşi.
― Spike, am nevoie de tine. Ce treabă ai acum?
― Mă duc să-l văd pe acel Wood în legătură cu căminul de copii. Iau masa cu el.
― Poate să aştepte.
Îi făcu un semn cu mâna şi Spike îl urmă în cămăruţa pe care o ocupa acesta.
― Îl cunoşti pe Abel Bellamy, tipul ăla de la Chicago… milionarul?
― Abe? Mda… A murit? întrebă Spike plin de speranţe. Nu face să scrii despre el decât atunci când nu te mai poate da în judecată pentru defăimare.
― Îl cunoşti bine? întrebă Syme.
― Ştiu că-i din Chicago, că a câştigat milioane cu construcţiile şi că e un tip dur. Locuieşte în Anglia de vreo opt-nouă ani. Mi se pare că… şi-a cumpărat un castel în toată regula… şi că are un şofer mut…
February 25, 2024
Tohle se vážně těžko posuzuje. Čistě objektivně, z pohledu současného čtenáře, je to už jen archaická a těžko čitelná červená knihovna, kde jsou postavy rozdělené na mužné hrdiny s ocelovou pěstí, na něžné dívky, které omdlévají při každé vhodné příležitosti, a na zlotřilé bídáky. Plus tady máme nějaké staré hrady, křivdy a temné přízraky. Tentokrát je to Zelený lučištník, který, překvapivě, střílí padouchy lukem.
Návrat ke knihám Edgara Wallaceho je jako vrátit se po létech do Domu hrůzy na Matějské pouti. V šesti letech vám to přišlo strašidelné, teď se koukáte na ty plastové kostry v prázdných místnostech a říkáte si, že byste je dokázali smontovat a namalovat líp. Dřív jsem měl z knih pocit až gotických hororů, ale dneska je to vlastně hrozně neškodná věc, ve které za celou knihu zemřou tak tři lidi… a ještě takoví, co si to plně zaslouží. Agatha Christie byla větší tvrďák.
Samozřejmě, pachatel je od začátku dost jasný a veškeré pokusy svést podezření na jinou stopu jsou… no, řekněme to tak, že i ty lidi, co se z vás na ulicí snaží vytáhnout dvacku, jsou rafinovanější. Plus, jak to Wallace diktoval a moc to po sobě neredigoval, tak je vidět, že se tak úplně nedrží kontinuita postav. Jasně, hrdinové a padouši jsou jasně zaškatulkovaní, ale ti mezi občas kmitají mezi slizkými bídáky a roztomilými mizery. Zpočátku jsem se do čtení musel hodně kopat, ale ve finále naštěstí nabírá děj na obrátkách a i když nepřijde žádný překvapivý zvrat, tak jsou tu zatopení podzemní prostory, přestřelky a jiné záležitosti. A člověk tomu skoro odpustí, že hrdiny musí někdo zachránit a že zlosyni jsou odstřeleni mimo scénu.
Takže jo, z dnešního hlediska je to už opravdu pasé. Ale člověk si stále musí uvědomovat, jaký význam měl Edgar Wallace pro moderní thrillerovou scénu. Máte tu tajemné vraždy, různé podezřelé, atraktivní prostředí, ženu v ohrožení, tajemno, nebezpečí, akci, dynamické finále… prostě všechny atributy, na kterých staví moderní thrillery.
Návrat ke knihám Edgara Wallaceho je jako vrátit se po létech do Domu hrůzy na Matějské pouti. V šesti letech vám to přišlo strašidelné, teď se koukáte na ty plastové kostry v prázdných místnostech a říkáte si, že byste je dokázali smontovat a namalovat líp. Dřív jsem měl z knih pocit až gotických hororů, ale dneska je to vlastně hrozně neškodná věc, ve které za celou knihu zemřou tak tři lidi… a ještě takoví, co si to plně zaslouží. Agatha Christie byla větší tvrďák.
Samozřejmě, pachatel je od začátku dost jasný a veškeré pokusy svést podezření na jinou stopu jsou… no, řekněme to tak, že i ty lidi, co se z vás na ulicí snaží vytáhnout dvacku, jsou rafinovanější. Plus, jak to Wallace diktoval a moc to po sobě neredigoval, tak je vidět, že se tak úplně nedrží kontinuita postav. Jasně, hrdinové a padouši jsou jasně zaškatulkovaní, ale ti mezi občas kmitají mezi slizkými bídáky a roztomilými mizery. Zpočátku jsem se do čtení musel hodně kopat, ale ve finále naštěstí nabírá děj na obrátkách a i když nepřijde žádný překvapivý zvrat, tak jsou tu zatopení podzemní prostory, přestřelky a jiné záležitosti. A člověk tomu skoro odpustí, že hrdiny musí někdo zachránit a že zlosyni jsou odstřeleni mimo scénu.
Takže jo, z dnešního hlediska je to už opravdu pasé. Ale člověk si stále musí uvědomovat, jaký význam měl Edgar Wallace pro moderní thrillerovou scénu. Máte tu tajemné vraždy, různé podezřelé, atraktivní prostředí, ženu v ohrožení, tajemno, nebezpečí, akci, dynamické finále… prostě všechny atributy, na kterých staví moderní thrillery.
May 7, 2024
#410pagini
💚💚Mi-a trebuit aproape jumătate de carte sa încep a rezona cu aceasta poveste, mi se păreau prea multe personaje de urmărit,prea greu de ținut minte legătura dintre ele și un fir al poveștii prea întortocheat. Dar încet încet totul a început sa aibă sens,povestea a început sa prindă contur și totodată sa-mi placa.
Avem un mister de elucidat, la castelul Garre,deținut de Abe Bellamy,se presupune ca exista o fantoma,"fantoma Arcasului Verde" și toată lumea este dispusa sa afle cine este cu adevărat, mai ales atunci când acest Arcaș Verde începe sa ucidă.
De asemenea tot la castelul Garre se presupune ca Abe Bellamy tine captiva o femeie de foarte mult timp,asa ca Valerie Howett este decisa sa o găsească și sa o salveze,dar care este legătura ei cu aceasta femeie?
Abe Bellamy face tot posibilul sa împiedice acest lucru și totodată sa îl prindă el însuși pe Arcasul Verde.
Și asa începe întreaga aventura pentru descoperirea Arcasului Verde,pentru descoperirea secretului "femeii carunte" de la castel și pentru învingerea lui Abe Bellamy și a asociaților lui.
O carte care îți solicita multă răbdare și perseverenta,dar care la sfârșitul ei se dovedește ca merita citita.💚💚
🌟🌟🌟🌟
💚💚Mi-a trebuit aproape jumătate de carte sa încep a rezona cu aceasta poveste, mi se păreau prea multe personaje de urmărit,prea greu de ținut minte legătura dintre ele și un fir al poveștii prea întortocheat. Dar încet încet totul a început sa aibă sens,povestea a început sa prindă contur și totodată sa-mi placa.
Avem un mister de elucidat, la castelul Garre,deținut de Abe Bellamy,se presupune ca exista o fantoma,"fantoma Arcasului Verde" și toată lumea este dispusa sa afle cine este cu adevărat, mai ales atunci când acest Arcaș Verde începe sa ucidă.
De asemenea tot la castelul Garre se presupune ca Abe Bellamy tine captiva o femeie de foarte mult timp,asa ca Valerie Howett este decisa sa o găsească și sa o salveze,dar care este legătura ei cu aceasta femeie?
Abe Bellamy face tot posibilul sa împiedice acest lucru și totodată sa îl prindă el însuși pe Arcasul Verde.
Și asa începe întreaga aventura pentru descoperirea Arcasului Verde,pentru descoperirea secretului "femeii carunte" de la castel și pentru învingerea lui Abe Bellamy și a asociaților lui.
O carte care îți solicita multă răbdare și perseverenta,dar care la sfârșitul ei se dovedește ca merita citita.💚💚
🌟🌟🌟🌟
May 9, 2022
Quizá el estilo narrativo no sea brillante, pero la novela consigue mantener el ritmo a lo largo de todas sus páginas. El compendio de personajes es de lo más variopinto; así nos encontramos a una damisela en apuros, un policía abnegado, un periodista curioso, una pareja de truhanes, un misterioso justiciero, y un supervillano con sus secuaces. A la postre el supervillano y la damisela comparten un oscuro pasado que poco a poco se va revelando a medida que avanza la historia.
El ritmo no decae en ningún momento, y se suceden significativos avances en la investigación, tropiezos de los personajes, mientras el lector ya va averiguando ciertas identidades y desentrañando el misterio que la novela resuelve en sus páginas finales.
Me ha resultado entretenida, en ocasiones un poco repetitiva, pero la historia es atrayente. Lo que no me ha convencido tanto es el desenlace (esperaba un enfrentamiento entre dos o tres personajes que no se produjo finalmente).
El ritmo no decae en ningún momento, y se suceden significativos avances en la investigación, tropiezos de los personajes, mientras el lector ya va averiguando ciertas identidades y desentrañando el misterio que la novela resuelve en sus páginas finales.
Me ha resultado entretenida, en ocasiones un poco repetitiva, pero la historia es atrayente. Lo que no me ha convencido tanto es el desenlace (esperaba un enfrentamiento entre dos o tres personajes que no se produjo finalmente).
September 11, 2020
This was a mostly engaging detective mystery that illustrates the kind of plot, characterization, and writing style that was popular for a general audience in the ‘20’s: the evil villain, the savior super heroes, the mysterious ghost, the damsels in distress, and the shadowy accomplices (in this case depicted with negative racial slurs and stereotyping). I can see how it was easily made into several different film and screen adaptations and made popular. Some of the architectural plot details had me wondering if Erik Larson read this book because the details reminded me of his non-fiction book written in novel style- Devil in The White City.
September 26, 2021
Particolarmente confuso, convoluto e noioso. Ci ho messo il doppio del tempo per finirlo rispetto a quanto avessi preventivato proprio per questo motivo: al solo pensiero di prenderlo in mano per andare avanti mi veniva il latte alle ginocchia.
In modo molto Dickensiano tutti sono imparentati o legati con tutti. Che palle.
In modo molto Dickensiano tutti sono imparentati o legati con tutti. Che palle.
May 19, 2017
A long novel, by Edgar Wallace's standards, about twice as long as his usual. Lots of incident a ridiculously convoluted denunciation and great fun throughout.
August 4, 2020
A huge hit at the time, and it's very interesting to read for the historical details, but it's very long and the plot is a real mess!
January 18, 2021
Aventuras, suspenso, misterio... Entretenido para pasar el rato.
January 4, 2023
Sehr verwirrend und leider gar nicht spannend. Vermutlich hapert es auch an der Übersetzung...
October 26, 2023
I don't like the narration. Also, many actions are illogical.
November 22, 2023
جريمة واحدة تكون السبب في انكشاف عقد من الأسرار
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2023
classic turn the pages until the end action mystery
December 24, 2024
Ein absoluter Klassiker!
March 3, 2025
(1.5 Sterne) Ein sehr spannender Krimi bis zur letzten Seite, bei deren Lektüre man sich wirklich konzentrieren muss, sonst verliert man den Roten Faden und den Überblick über die verwirrend vielen Charaktere, welche farblos bleiben.
March 15, 2016
Like all the Edgar Wallace books I've read so far, this one has a rather convoluted plot and lots of characters who flit in and out of the story. Still it's a good read when one isn't up for more heady things. I'd likely score it a ***+, were I able to give +s or -s.
This one involves revenge. Abel Bellamy is a very rich, very nasty American who has settled at Garre Castle in England. The castle has dungeons, secret passages, gun loops, all the fine features of a medieval castle. He is slowly working out his revenge on a number of people he feels wronged him. Most prominent is Elaine Held, his brother's spouse who wouldn't leave his brother to marry him, nor would she have him after his brother died. Then there's his nephew, who would be an enemy except he appears to have been lost in the war (WWI). The nephew bequeathed his inheritance to one John Wood, an eccentric American who has founded an orphanage in Belgium and who proposes to found another in England. In fact, he deems Garre Castle as the perfect spot. Then there's Valerie Howett, a most beautiful and charming young woman who, after spending oodles of her adoptive father's money, looking for her birth mother, figures out that Abel Bellamy holds the key to that mystery. So she and her father rent the "Ladies Cottage" adjacent to the castle. Of course, there's a secret passage connecting the two.
Well, we have other folks, like the nosey reporter, Spike Holland, and the suave police Jim Featherstone, and Bellamy's sinister "secretary", Julius Savini. But most important of all is the mysterious green archer. There has been a legend about a green archer of Garre Castle since the middle ages. Suddenly, after Bellamy takes up residence, people speak again of seeing a green archer about Garre Castle. Bellamy locks his doors tightly and obtains savage dogs to prowl the gardens and hallways, but the presence of the green archer still is felt. Some days he wakes up to find all the doors unlocked and his bedroom door open. He gets more vicious dogs, and one of them ends up being shot through the heart by a green arrow. Somewhere along the way, perhaps before his dog is lost, one of his henchmen is found out in the garden, shot through the heart with a green arrow.
Anyway things wander around here and there, and eventually we come to some surprising conclusions, which it would be remiss of me to reveal. So I won't. Suffice to say, for ordinary reading that isn't overly taxing, this book is one rather GoodRead.
This one involves revenge. Abel Bellamy is a very rich, very nasty American who has settled at Garre Castle in England. The castle has dungeons, secret passages, gun loops, all the fine features of a medieval castle. He is slowly working out his revenge on a number of people he feels wronged him. Most prominent is Elaine Held, his brother's spouse who wouldn't leave his brother to marry him, nor would she have him after his brother died. Then there's his nephew, who would be an enemy except he appears to have been lost in the war (WWI). The nephew bequeathed his inheritance to one John Wood, an eccentric American who has founded an orphanage in Belgium and who proposes to found another in England. In fact, he deems Garre Castle as the perfect spot. Then there's Valerie Howett, a most beautiful and charming young woman who, after spending oodles of her adoptive father's money, looking for her birth mother, figures out that Abel Bellamy holds the key to that mystery. So she and her father rent the "Ladies Cottage" adjacent to the castle. Of course, there's a secret passage connecting the two.
Well, we have other folks, like the nosey reporter, Spike Holland, and the suave police Jim Featherstone, and Bellamy's sinister "secretary", Julius Savini. But most important of all is the mysterious green archer. There has been a legend about a green archer of Garre Castle since the middle ages. Suddenly, after Bellamy takes up residence, people speak again of seeing a green archer about Garre Castle. Bellamy locks his doors tightly and obtains savage dogs to prowl the gardens and hallways, but the presence of the green archer still is felt. Some days he wakes up to find all the doors unlocked and his bedroom door open. He gets more vicious dogs, and one of them ends up being shot through the heart by a green arrow. Somewhere along the way, perhaps before his dog is lost, one of his henchmen is found out in the garden, shot through the heart with a green arrow.
Anyway things wander around here and there, and eventually we come to some surprising conclusions, which it would be remiss of me to reveal. So I won't. Suffice to say, for ordinary reading that isn't overly taxing, this book is one rather GoodRead.
June 29, 2015
Now I know where Green Arrow came from.
This was an interesting read, but it was far from the most exciting thing I've ever read. It's got a lot of interesting things going on, but really could have used more Green Archer and his trademark brand of justice.
Oh, and the main villain is just a bastard.
This was an interesting read, but it was far from the most exciting thing I've ever read. It's got a lot of interesting things going on, but really could have used more Green Archer and his trademark brand of justice.
Oh, and the main villain is just a bastard.
September 14, 2012
My father introduced me to Edgar Wallace books a long time ago and I have coveted them ever since. The Green Archer is one of his best. Love his writing style. And a GREAT mystery. VERY different from today's style in mystery writing. EMINENTLY ENJOYABLE.
December 18, 2023
Leider konnte mich dieses Buch kaum überzeugen. Ich fand es derart langweilig und langatmig.
Es kommt eben aus einer anderen Zeit.
Habe es nur aus Nostalgiegründen gelesen, da meine Eltern immer die Edgar Wallace Verfilmungen schauen.
Es kommt eben aus einer anderen Zeit.
Habe es nur aus Nostalgiegründen gelesen, da meine Eltern immer die Edgar Wallace Verfilmungen schauen.
August 13, 2016
These days, many people poo-poo Edgar Wallace, but the guy could really write exciting stories. Loved this one!
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