MYSTERY CLASSICS Boxed Set - Earl Derr Biggers Edition (Illustrated) (ePub)

Earl Derr Biggers (1884-1933) was an American novelist and playwright, best known for creating the fictional Chinese-American detective Charlie Chan. Born in Warren, Ohio, Biggers graduated from Harvard University in 1907. He began his career as a journalist, working for The Boston Traveler. However, it wasn't long before he turned his talents to fiction, with an emphasis on mystery and detective stories. His first novel, 'Seven Keys to Baldpate' (1913), was a success and later adapted into a popular play and several films. His enduring legacy, however, comes from the six novels he wrote featuring Charlie Chan, starting with 'The House Without a Key' (1925). Biggers's creation of Chan was significant for introducing a positive Chinese character into Western literature, at a time when anti-Chinese sentiment was still prevalent in America. The Mystery Classics Boxed Set, an illustrated collection, encompasses these notable works and reflects Biggers's affinity for constructing puzzles steeped in intrigue and suspense. Biggers wrote with a light, entertaining style that often incorporated humor even when delving into darker themes of murder and mystery. His portrayal of Chan broke stereotypes, even though the character was sometimes presented through the lens of contemporary cultural perceptions. Biggers's contribution to detective fiction set a precedent for the genre and has sustained a readership that appreciates his blend of classic whodunit elements with vivid characterization. His work remains a subject of literary discussion and analysis.