While Wallace could never be accused of being a run-of-the-mill author, ‘The Price a Woman Pays’ is one of his more unusual tales.
A gripping and fun short story, it follows the concerns of Dr Beechington who, down on his luck, wants to ensure that his daughter marries into money. Will she follow his request, or go her own way?
An unexpected religious twist sets this story apart from the majority of Wallace’s works.
Fast-paced and with a liberal sprinkling of wry humour, this is an ideal read for Wallace fans or those who want an introduction to his writing.
Born in London, Edgar Wallace (1875 – 1932) was an English writer so prolific that his publisher claimed that he was responsible for a quarter of all books sold in England.
Leaving school at the age of 12, Wallace made his first steps into the literary world by selling newspapers on the corner of Fleet Street.
He worked as a war correspondent after joining the army at age 21, which honed his writing abilities. This led to the creation of his first book ‘The Four Just Men.’
Wallace is best remembered as the co-creator of ‘King Kong,’ which has been adapted for film 12 times (most notably directed by ‘Lord of the Rings’ director, Peter Jackson, and starring Jack Black and Naomi Watts).
However, he leaves behind an extensive body of work, including stories such as ‘The Crimson Circle’ and ‘The Flying Squad’.