Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace (18751932) was one of the most popular writers of the early 20th century. Born in Greenwich, in an acting family . After dropping out of school at the age of 12, he moved from one job to another before enlisting in the army. In 1896, Edgar left for South Africa, where he served in medical units. After demobilization, he worked as a correspondent for the Wraiter Agency and the London Daily Mail, and in 1901 became editor of a newspaper in Johannesburg. Wallace's first novels didn't pay for the financial costs. Commercial success came to him in the 1910s, and in the 20s he became the most published English writer (every fourth book published was his novel). Wallace wrote 173 novels, 23 plays, and more than 1,000 short stories, while Edgar did not interrupt his journalistic activities.