Sax Rohmer was born Arthur Henry Ward in Birmingham on 15 February 1883, the son of Irish immigrant parents who moved to London in 1886. Little is known of his early life except that he had an ambition to serve in the Civil Service in the East. On failing the entrance examination he progressed from being a clerk to more literary pursuits, including writing for the music hall. His early success with short stories led to his writing The sins of Severac Babylon, a serial that appeared in Cassell’s Magazine in 1912 under his new pseudonym, Sax Rohmer.
His early interest in Oriental mysticism was used in most of his subsequent work. Fu Manchu, his most memorable character, became very popular and appeared in fifteen books. The villain was the leader of a secret society at Limehouse, in the East End of London, and first appeared in The Mystery of Dr. Fu Manchu, serialized 1912-13 and published in book form a year later.
Here is a recent Amazon review of The Sins of Severac Bablon:
I really enjoyed this book. I love anything in the Robin Hood vein. It's a legend I've loved since I was a boy. Rohmer adds an interesting twist by making this Robin Hood Jewish. Some people are opposed to the idea thinking it will give rise to anti-Semitic sentiment, though I'm not sure why. Who doesn't love Robin Hood? And why wouldn't people love a Jewish Robin Hood just as much? I certainly did.
Rohmer successfully gives us yet another clever foil who is able to keep Scotland Yard completely baffled. He is a brilliant writer of the mystery genre, and his talent shines through in this book. Usually his foil is a villain, but in this book he gives us a hero we can all root for.
This is an exciting and excellently paced read full of action and intrigue. I would expect no less from the author of the world famous Fu Manchu series. Rohmer is at the top of his game on this one as well.
If you love mysteries and enjoy a hero whose antics are brilliant, I believe you will love this book as much as I did. I strongly recommend it.
