The Ivory Snuff Box (ePub)

Frederic Arnold Kummer (1873-1943) was an American author, playwright, and screenwriter, whose literary career spanned several genres and artistic forms. Born on July 5, 1873, in Baltimore, Maryland, Kummer honed his craft in early 20th-century America, a period marked by rapid societal changes and a burgeoning appetite for entertainment in various forms (Clute & Grant, 1997). With a keen interest in storytelling, Kummer distinguished himself with a body of work that includes novels, plays, and later, screenplays for the burgeoning film industry. Among his notable novels is 'The Ivory Snuff Box' (1912), a mystery-thriller that showcases Kummer's ability to intertwine suspense with romance, characteristic of the early detective genre which gained popularity in his era (Mansfield-Kelley & Hoeveler, 1999). Kummer's literary style amalgamates meticulous character development with well-constructed plots, often imbued with elements of intrigue and espionage-a reflection of the geopolitical tensions preceding World War I. His narratives are known for their crisp dialogue and attention to detail, which is indicative of his broader work within the early 20th-century literary landscape. Today, Kummer's works remain an interesting exploration of transitional periods in literary form and genre, reflecting the dynamics and anxieties of his time (Server, 2002).