L'éventail du mandarin - Hume, Fergus

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Résumé :
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Biographie:
Fergus Hume was a British author renowned for his detective fiction, particularly in the late 19th century. Born in 1859, he became a prominent literary figure after returning to England. Hume's most famous work, The Mystery of a Hansom Cab, published in 1886, gained immense popularity and is considered one of the pioneering detective novels. He also wrote The Scarlet Bat, another notable addition to his oeuvre, showcasing his talent for crafting intricate plots and suspenseful narratives. Hume's writing features vivid characters and often blends mystery with social commentary. Throughout his career, he published numerous novels and short stories, significantly contributing to the genre. Hume's work has had a lasting impact on detective fiction, influencing future writers and shaping the genre's development. Throughout his career, Hume published over 30 novels and numerous short stories, showcasing his talent for crafting intricate plots filled with suspense and complex characters. He remains an important figure in the history of crime literature, with a style that continues to resonate with readers today....

Sommaire:
Ferguson Wright Hume, also known as Fergus Hume, was a prolific English novelist who wrote detective fiction, thrillers, and mysteries. Hume was born in Powick, Worcestershire, England, as the second son of James C. Hume, a Scot who worked as a clerk and steward at the county pauper and lunatic asylum. When he was three, his family moved to Dunedin, New Zealand, where he attended Otago Boys' High School and studied law at the University of Otago. He was admitted to the New Zealand Bar in 1885. Hume moved to Melbourne, Australia, shortly after graduating and began working as a barristers' clerk. He began writing plays but was unable to persuade Melbourne theatre managers to approve, let alone read them. Hume returned to England, first in London, then in Thundersley, Essex, at Church Cottage, most likely on the invitation of the Reverend Thomas Noon Talfourd Major. Hume resided in Thundersley for thirty years, producing over 130 novels and various collections, the most of which were mystery stories, although he never regained the fame of his debut novel. He also wrote lyrics for songs written by his brother-in-law, Charles Willeby, and book reviews for literary periodicals such as The Bookman. The 1911 census shows him as 'author', aged 51, and living at Church Cottage, Thundersley, which comprised of six rooms. He had a housekeeper, Ada Louise Peck, a widow aged 69. He made regular trips to Italy, France, Switzerland, and other European countries....