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Such Power Is Dangerous
'. . . Once we have begun our operations there can be no turning back, but if you agree to join me I have no single doubt as to our success. What is your answer?'
Hinckman stood up – his great chin jutted out and he threw his massive shoulders back as he replied: 'I guess this is the biggest proposition that's ever been put up, Lord Fortescue – but I'm your man!'
Lord Gavin took his hand, a sudden fire leapt into his strange, cold eyes. 'Within a year,' he said softly, 'you and I will be the richest and most powerful men in the world.'
Hinckman stood up – his great chin jutted out and he threw his massive shoulders back as he replied: 'I guess this is the biggest proposition that's ever been put up, Lord Fortescue – but I'm your man!'
Lord Gavin took his hand, a sudden fire leapt into his strange, cold eyes. 'Within a year,' he said softly, 'you and I will be the richest and most powerful men in the world.'
Paperback
First published January 1, 1933
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About the author
Dennis Wheatley
381 books248 followersDennis Yates Wheatley (8 January 1897 – 10 November 1977) [Born: Dennis Yeats Wheatley] was an English author. His prolific output of stylish thrillers and occult novels made him one of the world's best-selling authors in the 1950s and 1960s.
His first book, Three Inquisitive People, was not immediately published; but his first published novel, The Forbidden Territory, was an immediate success when published in 1933, being reprinted seven times in seven weeks.
He wrote adventure stories, with many books in a series of linked works. His plots covered the French Revolution (Roger Brook Series), Satanism (Duc de Richleau), World War II (Gregory Sallust) and espionage (Julian Day).
In the thirties, he conceived a series of whodunit mysteries, presented as case files, with testimonies, letters, pieces of evidence such as hairs or pills. The reader had to go through the evidence to solve the mystery before unsealing the last pages of the file, which gave the answer. Four of these 'Crime Dossiers' were published: Murder Off Miami, Who Killed Robert Prentice, The Malinsay Massacre, and Herewith The Clues.
In the 1960s his publishers were selling a million copies of his books per year. A small number of his books were made into films by Hammer, of which the best known is The Devil Rides Out (book 1934, film 1968). His writing is very descriptive and in many works he manages to introduce his characters into real events while meeting real people. For example, in the Roger Brook series the main character involves himself with Napoleon, and Joséphine whilst being a spy for the Prime Minister William Pitt. Similarly, in the Gregory Sallust series, Sallust shares an evening meal with Hermann Göring.
He also wrote non-fiction works, including accounts of the Russian Revolution and King Charles II, and his autobiography. He was considered an authority on the supernatural, satanism, the practice of exorcism, and black magic, to all of which he was hostile. During his study of the paranormal, though, he joined the Ghost Club.
From 1974 through 1977 he edited a series of 45 paperback reprints for the British publisher Sphere under the heading "The Dennis Wheatley Library of the Occult", selecting the titles and writing short introductions for each book. This series included both occult-themed novels by the likes of Bram Stoker and Aleister Crowley and non-fiction works on magic, occultism, and divination by authors such as the Theosophist H. P. Blavatsky, the historian Maurice Magre, the magician Isaac Bonewits, and the palm-reader Cheiro.
Two weeks before his death in November 1977, Wheatley received conditional absolution from his old friend Cyril ‘Bobby’ Eastaugh, the Bishop of Peterborough.
His estate library was sold in a catalogue sale by Basil Blackwell's in the 1970s, indicating a thoroughly well-read individual with wide-ranging interests particularly in historical fiction and Europe. His influence has declined, partly due to difficulties in reprinting his works owing to copyright problems.
Fifty-two of Wheatley's novels were published posthumously in a set by Heron Books UK. More recently, in April 2008 Dennis Wheatley's literary estate was acquired by media company Chorion.
He invented a number of board games including Invasion.
-Wikipedia
His first book, Three Inquisitive People, was not immediately published; but his first published novel, The Forbidden Territory, was an immediate success when published in 1933, being reprinted seven times in seven weeks.
He wrote adventure stories, with many books in a series of linked works. His plots covered the French Revolution (Roger Brook Series), Satanism (Duc de Richleau), World War II (Gregory Sallust) and espionage (Julian Day).
In the thirties, he conceived a series of whodunit mysteries, presented as case files, with testimonies, letters, pieces of evidence such as hairs or pills. The reader had to go through the evidence to solve the mystery before unsealing the last pages of the file, which gave the answer. Four of these 'Crime Dossiers' were published: Murder Off Miami, Who Killed Robert Prentice, The Malinsay Massacre, and Herewith The Clues.
In the 1960s his publishers were selling a million copies of his books per year. A small number of his books were made into films by Hammer, of which the best known is The Devil Rides Out (book 1934, film 1968). His writing is very descriptive and in many works he manages to introduce his characters into real events while meeting real people. For example, in the Roger Brook series the main character involves himself with Napoleon, and Joséphine whilst being a spy for the Prime Minister William Pitt. Similarly, in the Gregory Sallust series, Sallust shares an evening meal with Hermann Göring.
He also wrote non-fiction works, including accounts of the Russian Revolution and King Charles II, and his autobiography. He was considered an authority on the supernatural, satanism, the practice of exorcism, and black magic, to all of which he was hostile. During his study of the paranormal, though, he joined the Ghost Club.
From 1974 through 1977 he edited a series of 45 paperback reprints for the British publisher Sphere under the heading "The Dennis Wheatley Library of the Occult", selecting the titles and writing short introductions for each book. This series included both occult-themed novels by the likes of Bram Stoker and Aleister Crowley and non-fiction works on magic, occultism, and divination by authors such as the Theosophist H. P. Blavatsky, the historian Maurice Magre, the magician Isaac Bonewits, and the palm-reader Cheiro.
Two weeks before his death in November 1977, Wheatley received conditional absolution from his old friend Cyril ‘Bobby’ Eastaugh, the Bishop of Peterborough.
His estate library was sold in a catalogue sale by Basil Blackwell's in the 1970s, indicating a thoroughly well-read individual with wide-ranging interests particularly in historical fiction and Europe. His influence has declined, partly due to difficulties in reprinting his works owing to copyright problems.
Fifty-two of Wheatley's novels were published posthumously in a set by Heron Books UK. More recently, in April 2008 Dennis Wheatley's literary estate was acquired by media company Chorion.
He invented a number of board games including Invasion.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 15, 2014
Amazing! After 20 years of my first-read, I still find this Dennis Wheatley book absolutely enthralling. Neither the stylistic changes in narration nor the changes in our own tastes over time, seem to obscure DW's inimitable ability at story-telling.
December 1, 2022
Well another Wheatley, however this one is not one of the notorious "Black magic" series. Its a crime adventure, a genre that it is the majority in Wheatley's bibliography. Its quite an amusing novel in its own way, however i should mention that it might seem a little dated to the modern reader. Nevertheless don't let this discourage you. Should you take it lightly it is entertaining and amusing, especially the outrageous plot: a bunch of rich people who plot to take over film industry by merging all major film companies in U.S. and Europe, and control the mass media. How coul Wheatley ever thought of that! These things don't happen. Oh wait...
August 18, 2025
Just didn't do it for me - novel is dated, but that is fine. Characters though all felt like they came from a cliche factory - could not warm to any of it and it ended up being a force yourself to finish it. Your mileage may vary though.
October 4, 2025
Dated, and very much a product of the times, this is still a fun crime novel about a “combine” of movie studios attempting to monopolize the industry. Some fun twists and turns, and Wheatley really can write good action sequences, even if the book is pretty leisurely in its overall pace.
December 17, 2022
I didn't like the story but the writing is just so good. And story about organised crime within the film industry and the people caught up within it
August 31, 2024
Decent wee thriller this. An enjoyable read. It felt like it was penned in the 1950s not the early 1930s. Hollywood as it still is??
July 16, 2025
Alot better than I thought it would be...lots of twists and turns...and the plot could actually be something that really happens behind the scenes of the world
July 2, 2015
Enjoyable, if a little dated, thriller set at the start of the golden age of Hollywood. Gun wielding Italian mobsters, a handsome, American entrepreneur, an English rose, a corrupt, deformed younger son of the aristocracy and some amusing caricatures of the film industry combine in this tale of a conspiracy to create a worldwide monopoly over film production. A guilty pleasure.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews