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The Book of All-Power
Richard 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. Edgar Wallace was born in Yarmouth, Greenwich, Norfolk. His biological parents were actors Richard Horatio Edgar (who never knew of his existence) and Mary Jane "Polly" Richards, nee Blair. Known as Richard Freeman, Edgar had a happy childhood, forming an especially close bond with 20-year-old Clara Freeman who became like a second mother to him. His foster-father George Freeman was an honourable and kind man and determined to ensure Richard received a good education. 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. His other works include: The Angel of Terror (1922), The Clue of the Twisted Candle (1916), and The Daffodil Mystery (1920).
180 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1921
About the author
Edgar Wallace
2,574 books270 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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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 8, 2013
Here's the thing: if you are into old school sci-fi/thriller novels (and I mean 19th century stuff, like Wells, Verne, Doyle...) this is definitely the type of book for you. For one, this guy has written as many or more books that have been adapted into movies than any of those other three. What's more, this was one that I really had a problem with putting down. Every time I had to do something else, I kept trying to find excuses to come back to it and finish it.
The problem is, this was written before people began questioning the cookie-cutter novel, ending, etc. But when you consider the age this came out in, it is far beyond its time.
Think about it this way: if you love the pop song formula (verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus-chorus) and appreciate when someone does something fun and exciting with that formula, think of the book in those terms. If you are a die hard postmodern/prog-rock fan this might not be for you. But, in terms of when it was released and the ideas/plot points that go into this story, it was definitely groundbreaking for this time.
Personally, I highly recommend this and hope you'll trust me when I say "Totally worth it".
The problem is, this was written before people began questioning the cookie-cutter novel, ending, etc. But when you consider the age this came out in, it is far beyond its time.
Think about it this way: if you love the pop song formula (verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus-chorus) and appreciate when someone does something fun and exciting with that formula, think of the book in those terms. If you are a die hard postmodern/prog-rock fan this might not be for you. But, in terms of when it was released and the ideas/plot points that go into this story, it was definitely groundbreaking for this time.
Personally, I highly recommend this and hope you'll trust me when I say "Totally worth it".
May 8, 2022
Edgar Wallace, one of the top mystery/thriller authors of his time, takes us to the Russian Revolution. We follow a 22-year-old man on his first assignment for a Russian-English oil company as he becomes embroiled in intrigue and romance involving a beautiful Grand Duchess, American mobster Cherry Bim, and the influential Israel Kensky and his magical book of "all power". This unlikely cast of characters embark on an adventure full of twists and turns. I found it highly enjoyable. And the ending was unexpected and perfect.
December 12, 2018
This book almost had me so confused in the first few chapters I almost gave up on it owing to the characters that were hard to keep track of and the ill-explained backstory of the Russian revolution lingering in the background. The book picked up at about the one-third mark when the roles of the characters became more clear, and the story started to really move and become very interesting. I was hooked in the last few chapters. Somehow I would think that the book would do well as a play. I'm not really sure if this had any moral themes here, other than a historical fiction novel. I would only re-read this novel if I were to study the Russian revolution and wanted to go back and see how the historical context fit in with this one. I did, however, enjoy the read.
April 19, 2022
A Book For Today
Taking place in Ukraine and Russia this book portrays both the similarities and the differences of these two alien lands. It is a fun adventure story that shows to never give up hope.
Lots of fun word play, in English and Russian. Dastardly villians and bold comrades who never give up on each other.
My only complaint is the abrupt ending. But I guess Wallace had said all he had to say.
A typical Wallace book, it does have its share of racial bigotry, but it is shown as a negative. The good guys find it unpleasant and resist its ignorance.
Enjoy it, it was a fun read!
Taking place in Ukraine and Russia this book portrays both the similarities and the differences of these two alien lands. It is a fun adventure story that shows to never give up hope.
Lots of fun word play, in English and Russian. Dastardly villians and bold comrades who never give up on each other.
My only complaint is the abrupt ending. But I guess Wallace had said all he had to say.
A typical Wallace book, it does have its share of racial bigotry, but it is shown as a negative. The good guys find it unpleasant and resist its ignorance.
Enjoy it, it was a fun read!
Did Not Finish
December 23, 2025The Russian revolution is not my favourite setting by a long way (what with both sides being terrible in different ways - rather like the French Revolution, now I think about it), so this wasn't the book for me.
February 23, 2024
A smart and intriguing adventure with romance and pathos. Very readable. Set in pre and post revolutionary Russia. A great escape.
April 4, 2018
A Romance with a capital R - the pre-Netflix kind of simple, mindless entertainment.
March 20, 2024
Published a few years after World War I, ‘The Book of All Power’ is Edgar Wallace’s Ruritarian romance set in Russia, and strangely prescient of the events that happened in Russia the year after its publication, when Josef Stalin came to power.
As with all Edgar Wallace romances, the reader has simply to shut his eyes and allow himself that willing suspension of disbelief that accompanies the enjoyment of all good literature. We are thrown into mad plots of assassination, fear of a rich Jew suspected of necromancy and human sacrifice, another search after a grimoire the possession of which will ensure wealth and invincibility to the owner, all in the company of a young English engineer, an American gunman whose sideline is burglary (though he draws the line at cold-blooded murder), a Russian ex-general ruined by the Soviet, and a beautiful Romanov Grand Duchess.
A charming little read. Some strange details show up as footnotes - the Kremlin has a little footnote all to itself to explain it, as does the Lubyanka. The general anti-Semitism in Russia is part of the story, the mad escape from train and car was described probably for the first time, as was the airplane attack, all to become such tropes in future.
As with all Edgar Wallace romances, the reader has simply to shut his eyes and allow himself that willing suspension of disbelief that accompanies the enjoyment of all good literature. We are thrown into mad plots of assassination, fear of a rich Jew suspected of necromancy and human sacrifice, another search after a grimoire the possession of which will ensure wealth and invincibility to the owner, all in the company of a young English engineer, an American gunman whose sideline is burglary (though he draws the line at cold-blooded murder), a Russian ex-general ruined by the Soviet, and a beautiful Romanov Grand Duchess.
A charming little read. Some strange details show up as footnotes - the Kremlin has a little footnote all to itself to explain it, as does the Lubyanka. The general anti-Semitism in Russia is part of the story, the mad escape from train and car was described probably for the first time, as was the airplane attack, all to become such tropes in future.
November 25, 2015
A high-spirited romp through the Russian Revolution with the aid of more coincidences than you can shake a stick at and a good dose of dramatic licence. The pace of the writing sails you past the thin bits and there's enough plot to keep you going, though it gets telegraphed to you a few times too often for my liking in the early chapters.
All in all, a good book for long winter bus journeys.
All in all, a good book for long winter bus journeys.
September 4, 2015
Great Read
A little slow at the beginning, but it picked up quickly. Once I familiarized myself with the Russian character names it took off.
A little slow at the beginning, but it picked up quickly. Once I familiarized myself with the Russian character names it took off.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews