The Four Just Men (Dover Mystery Classics) by Wallace, Edgar - 1984

N.Y.: Dover Publications, 1984. The Four Just Men is the brilliantly crafted first novel of Edgar Wallace, England's "King of the Thrillers." Wallace issued the original edition (1905) without a concluding chapter and offered substantial cash prizes to readers who could figure out the ending. He lost a considerable sum of money but won an enduring place in the public eye for his audacity. This Dover reprint includes the complete text of the first edition, the concluding chapter from a later edition and a facsimile of Wallace's original contest blank. You'll also find an informative introduction outlining the literary talents and public-relations genius that made Wallace so remarkably prolific a master of crime fiction and the most popular writer of his day. The cat-and-mouse game played for the life of Sir Philip Ramon is quite as sensational as the contest and publicity campaign that promoted it; Seekers of fast-paced reading excitement need look no further. The Four Just Men is an absorbing, provocative and sure-to-please literary entertainment. Unabridged (1984) republication of the main text of the first edition, originally published by The Tallis Press, London, 1905, plus the concluding chapter in the form originally published by George Newnes, London, 1911. New Introduction by Alan Weissman. Facsimile of contest blank from the original edition. 160pp. ---- Manfred, Poiccart, Gonsalez and Thery are modern-day vigilantes - angels of death who mete out punishment to wrongdoers whom the law cannot (or will not) touch. "We kill for justice," says Manfred, "which lifts us out of the ruck of professional slayers." "The Four Just Men" have marked Sir Philip Ramon for death because of his support of the unjust Aliens Extradition Bill- -they have even made public the exact day and hour of the EngHsh Foreign Secretary's execution. The Four have never failed to carry out their threats - they assassinated a corrupt French military contractor "with a hundred policemen within call," and hanged a murderous South American despot from his own public gallows ... and escaped. Is it any wonder that Superintendent Falmouth, with all the King's horses and all the King's men at his disposal, nevertheless fears he may be unable to stay Ramon's sentence? . 1st Prtg. Pictorial Wrappers. Fine/No Jacket. 5 3/8 x 8. Trade Paperback.