Sax Rohmer
Biography
Sax Rohmer (1883–1959), born Arthur Henry Sarsfield Ward, was an English novelist best known as the creator of Dr. Fu Manchu, one of fiction’s most notorious villains. Born in Birmingham, he worked as a journalist before creating the Fu Manchu character in 1912. The series of thirteen novels featuring the diabolical Chinese criminal mastermind became enormously popular and spawned films, radio shows, and comics. Rohmer also wrote horror and occult fiction, including Brood of the Witch-Queen (1918). While the Fu Manchu stories are now recognized for their racist stereotypes, they were influential in establishing the supervillain archetype in popular fiction.
Common themes in Sax Rohmer's work
Pulp fiction
A recurring theme throughout Sax Rohmer's writing.
Fu Manchu
A recurring theme throughout Sax Rohmer's writing.
Criminal mastermind
A recurring theme throughout Sax Rohmer's writing.
Occult fiction
A recurring theme throughout Sax Rohmer's writing.
Books
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Why Sax Rohmer is still read today
Rohmer’s Fu Manchu stories, while problematic in their racial stereotypes, were hugely influential in establishing the criminal mastermind archetype in popular fiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Sax Rohmer?
Sax Rohmer (1883–1959) was an English novelist who created Dr. Fu Manchu and wrote occult thriller fiction.
What are his major works?
The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu and Brood of the Witch-Queen. Both are available free on TextStack.
Are the Fu Manchu stories racist?
Yes, they contain racial stereotypes typical of their era. They are read today primarily for historical and genre interest.
Where can I read Rohmer free?
TextStack offers Rohmer’s novels to read free online.
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