List of works by Sax Rohmer

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Sax Rohmer
bibliography
Novels42
Collections9
Plays4
Music7
Non-fiction3
References and footnotes

Sax Rohmer (pseudonym of Arthur Henry "Sarsfield" Ward; 1883–1959) was a British writer of songs sketches, plays and stories.[1] Born in Birmingham to Irish immigrant parents, the family moved to London in about 1886, where Rohmer was schooled. His formal education finished in 1901, following the death of his alcoholic mother.[2] After attempting careers in the civil service, as well as the banking, journalism and gas industries, Rohmer began writing comic songs, monologues and sketches for music hall performers, including Little Tich and George Robey.[1][3][4] Rohmer's first book was Pause!, a series of sketches conceived by Robey and written by Rohmer, which was published anonymously in 1910; his second book was the ghost-written biography of Little Tich, published with Tich's real name, Harry Relph.[5]

In 1913 The Mystery of Dr. Fu-Manchu was published, a novel that introduced Dr. Fu Manchu, described by Rohmer as "the yellow peril incarnate in one man".[1] The book brought the author popularity and wealth;[4] in total he wrote 13 Fu Manchu books during his lifetime and, although he killed the character off more than once, public pressure always demanded his return.[6] Fu Manchu is the character with which Rohmer "remains most strongly identified"[1] and was described by Rohmer's biographer Will Murray as one of the literary characters that "has achieved universal acceptance and popularity which will not be forgotten", along with Sherlock Holmes, Tarzan and Dracula.[7] From 1951 onwards, Rohmer published five novels with Sumuru as the central antagonist; she was a female counterpart of Fu Manchu and her novels, too, were both popular and successful.[8]

Rohmer contracted the Asian flu in 1958 and died the following year after related complications.[8] His best-known character has outlived him through numerous film, radio and television interpretations.[1]

Songs and monologues[edit]

George Robey, for whom Rohmer wrote songs and sketches[1]
Songs and musical monologues by Rohmer
Title Year of first
publication
First edition publisher Notes Ref.
"Bang went the Chance of a Lifetime!" 1908 Francis, Day and Hunter, London [9]
"Tom Took Tickets for Two" 1909 Francis, Day and Hunter, London [10]
"I've Been Looking for You for Years, and Years and Years" 1909 Francis, Day and Hunter, London Written and composed by R. Noel, Rohmer & T. W. Thurban [11]
"The Camels' Parade : A Desert Arabesque" 1910 Ascherberg, Hopwood & Crew, London Later arranged for military band by M. Retford. [12]
"Aboo Tabah" 1910 None listed Written by Rohmer and T. W. Thurban [13]
"The Pigtail of Li Fang Fu" 1919 Reynolds & Co, London Musical monologue; written and composed by Rohmer. Transcription for piano arranged by T. W. Thurban [14]
"Orange Blossoms: A Chinese Tale" 1921 Reynolds & Co, London Musical monologue [15]

Non-fiction[edit]

Little Tich, whose biography Rohmer ghost wrote[2]
Non-fiction works by Rohmer
Title Year of first
publication
First edition publisher Category Notes Ref.
Pause! 1910 Greening (London) Stories and essays Published anonymously; some material co-conceived with George Robey [4][16]
Little Tich: A Book of Travels and Wanderings 1911 Greening (London) Anecdotes and sketches Ghostwriter collaborator on autobiography of Little Tich, published under Tich's name only [2][17]
The Romance of Sorcery 1914 Methuen Publishing, London Occult history A history of the occult and its main practitioners [6][18]
Apologia Alchymiae 1925 John M. Watkins, London Occult A re-statement of Alchemy by Richard Watson Councell, M.D. with a preface by Sax Rohmer [6][19]

Novels and short story collections[edit]

"The Curse of a Thousand Kisses", a short story published in one of Sax Rohmer's collections, was later republished in a 1948 issue of Avon Fantasy Reader.

"A tall, dignified Chinese, wearing a fur-collared overcoat and a fur cap, alighted and walked in ... For a mere instant while the light flooded out from the opened door, I had seen the face of the man in the fur cap, and in that instant my imaginary monster came to life ... I knew that I had seen Dr Fu-Manchu! His face was the living embodiment of Satan".

Rohmer, describing the moment of inspiration for Fu Manchu.[20]

Brood of the Witch-Queen was reprinted in the January 1951 issue of Famous Fantastic Mysteries
The Bat Flies Low, one of the few Rohmer novels never issued in a paperback edition, was reprinted in the January 1951 issue of Famous Fantastic Mysteries
Cover of "The Mask of Fu Manchu" by Sax Rohmer. Illustration by Ronnie Lesser, 1962.
Novels and story collections by Rohmer
Title[21][22] Year of first
publication
First edition publisher Notes Ref.
The Mystery of Dr. Fu-Manchu 1913 Methuen Publishing, London In later editions the hyphen was dropped from Fu Manchu's name and the book's title.[4] Published in the U.S. as The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu. [23][24]
The Sins of Séverac Bablon 1914 Cassell, London [25]
The Yellow Claw 1915 McBride, New York Published in the UK by Methuen Publishing, London (1915) [26][27]
The Devil Doctor 1916 Methuen Publishing, London also published as The Return of Dr Fu-Manchu [28]
The Exploits of Captain O'Hagan 1916 Jarrold Publishing, London Short story collection [29][30]
The Si-Fan Mysteries 1917 Methuen Publishing, London also published as The Hand of Fu-Manchu [31]
Brood of the Witch-Queen 1918 Pearson, London [32]
Tales of Secret Egypt 1918 Methuen Publishing, London Short story collection [30][33]
The Orchard of Tears 1918 Methuen Publishing, London [34]
The Quest of the Sacred Slipper 1919 Pearson, London [35]
Dope: A Story of Chinatown and the Drug Traffic 1919 Cassell, London [36]
The Golden Scorpion 1919 Methuen Publishing, London [37]
The Dream Detective, Being Some Account of the Methods of Moris Klaw 1920 Jarrold Publishing, London Short story collection [30][38]
The Green Eyes of Bâst 1920 Cassell, London [39]
The Haunting of Low Fennel 1920 Pearson, London Short story collection [30][40]
Bat-Wing 1921 Cassell, London [41]
Fire-Tongue 1921 Cassell, London [42]
Tales of Chinatown 1922 Cassell, London Short story collection [30][43]
Grey Face 1924 Cassell, London [44]
Yellow Shadows 1925 Cassell, London [45]
Moon of Madness 1927 Doubleday, Page, Garden City, NY Published in the UK by Cassell, London (1927) [46][47]
She Who Sleeps 1928 Doubleday, Doran, Garden City, NY Published in the UK by Cassell, London (1928) [46][48]
The Emperor of America 1929 Doubleday, Doran, Garden City, NY Published in the UK by Cassell, London (1929) [46][49]
The Day the World Ended 1930 Doubleday, Doran, Garden City, NY Published in the UK by Cassell, London (1930) [46][50]
Daughter of Fu Manchu 1931 Doubleday, Doran, Garden City, NY Published in the UK by Cassell, London (1931) [46][51]
Yu'an Hee See Laughs 1932 Doubleday, Doran, Garden City, NY Published in the UK by Cassell, London (1932) [46][52]
Tales of East and West 1932 Cassell, London Short story collection [30]
The Mask of Fu Manchu 1932 Doubleday, Doran, Garden City, NY Published in the UK by Cassell, London (1933) [46][53]
Fu Manchu's Bride 1933 Doubleday, Doran, Garden City, NY Published in the UK as The Bride of Fu Manchu, Cassell, London (1933) [54][55]
The Trail of Fu Manchu 1934 Doubleday, Garden City, NY Published in the UK by Cassell, London (1934) [56][57]
The Bat Flies Low 1935 Doubleday, Doran, Garden City, NY Published in the UK by Cassell, London (1935) [56][58]
President Fu Manchu 1936 Doubleday, Doran, Garden City, NY Published in the UK by Cassell, London (1936) [56][59]
White Velvet 1936 Doubleday, Doran, Garden City, NY Published in the UK by Cassell, London (1936) [56][60]
Salute to Bazarada and Other Stories 1939 Cassell, London Short story collection [30]
The Drums of Fu Manchu 1939 Doubleday, Garden City, NY Published in the UK by Cassell, London (1939) [56][61]
The Island of Fu Manchu 1941 Doubleday, New York Published in the UK by Cassell, London (1941) [56][62]
Seven Sins 1943 McBride, New York Published in the UK by Cassell, London (1944) [56][63]
Egyptian Nights 1944 Hale, London Short story collection [30]
Shadow of Fu Manchu 1948 Doubleday, Doran, New York Published in the UK by Jenkins, London (1949) [56][64]
Hangover House 1949 Random House, New York Published in the UK by Jenkins, London (1950) [65][66]
Nude in Mink 1950 Fawcett Books, New York Published in the UK as The Sins of Sumuru, by Jenkins, London (1950) [65][67]
Wulfheim 1950 Jarrold Publishing, London Published under the pseudonym Michael Furey [68]
Sumuru 1951 Fawcett Books, New York Published in the UK as The Slaves of Sumuru, by Jenkins, London (1952) [65][69]
The Fire Goddess 1952 Fawcett Books, New York Published in the UK as Virgin in Flames, by Jenkins, London (1953) [65][70]
The Moon is Red 1954 Jenkins, London [71]
Return of Sumuru 1954 Fawcett Books, New York Published in the UK as Sand and Satin, by Jenkins, London (1955) [65][72]
Sinister Madonna 1956 Jenkins, London [73]
Re-Enter Fu Manchu 1957 Fawcett Books, New York Published in the UK as Re-Enter Dr. Fu Manchu, by Jenkins, London (1957) [65][74]
Emperor Fu Manchu 1959 Jenkins, London [75]
The Secret of Holm Peel and Other Strange Stories 1970 Ace Books, New York Published posthumously; short story collection [74][30]
The Wrath of Fu Manchu and Other Stories 1973 Stacey, London Published posthumously; short story collection [74]

Series[edit]

Dr. Fu Manchu[edit]

There are 13 novels, 4 short stories, and a play about Dr. Fu Manchu and his nemesis, Denis Nayland Smith.

  1. The Mystery of Dr. Fu-Manchu (The Insidious Dr. Fu Manchu) (1913)
  2. The Devil Doctor (The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu) (1916)
  3. The Si-Fan Mysteries (The Hand of Fu-Manchu) (1917)
  4. Fu Manchu: A Chinese Melodrama (1919) - a play written with Willard Mack
  5. The Daughter of Fu Manchu (1931)
  6. The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932)
  7. The Bride of Fu Manchu (1933)
  8. The Trail of Fu Manchu (1934)
  9. President Fu Manchu (1936)
  10. The Drums of Fu Manchu (1939)
  11. The Island of Fu Manchu (1941)
  12. The Shadow of Fu Manchu (1948)
  13. "The Wrath of Fu Manchu" (1973)
  14. Re-Enter Dr. Fu Manchu (1958)
  15. "The Eyes of Fu Manchu" (1973)
  16. "The Word of Fu Manchu" (1973)
  17. "The Mind of Fu Manchu" (1973)
  18. Emperor Fu Manchu (1959)

Denis Nayland Smith

There are 3 short stories featuring Denis Nayland Smith in which Dr. Fu Manchu does not appear

  1. "The Blue Monkey" in The Haunting of Low Fennel (1920) (The identities of Nayland Smith and Dr. Petrie are strongly hinted, though not explicitly stated in this story.)
  2. "The Mark of the Monkey" (Brittania & Eve, April 1931)
  3. "The Turkish Yataghan" (Colliers's, January 1932)

Gaston Max

There are 4 novels featuring the Parisian detective, Gaston Max.

  1. The Yellow Claw (1915)
  2. The Golden Scorpion (1919)
  3. The Day the World Ended (1930)
  4. Seven Sins (1943)

Sumuru[edit]

  1. Nude in Mink (The Sins of Sumuru) (1950)
  2. The Slaves of Sumuru (1951)
  3. Virgin in Flames (The Fire Goddess) (1952)
  4. Sand and Satin (The Return of Sumuru) (1954)
  5. Sinister Madonna (1956)

John Robert Colombo compiled the Sumuru Omnibus in 2011.

Red Kerry[edit]

  1. Dope: A Story of Chinatown and the Drug Traffic (1919)
  2. "The Daughter of Huang Chow", "Kerry's Kid" in Tales of Chinatown (1922)
  3. Yellow Shadows (1925)

Paul Harley[edit]

  1. Bat-Wing (1921)
  2. Fire-Tongue (1921)
  3. "The House of the Golden Joss", "The Man with the Shaven Skull" in Tales of Chinatown (1922)

Bimbashi Baruk

There are 10 short stories featuring this Egyptian major, collected in Bimbashi Baruk of Egypt (Egyptian Nights) (1944)

  1. "Mystery Strikes at Ragstaff Hill" (Collier's, May 31, 1941 as "A Heart in Her Hands")
  2. "The Bimbashi Meets Up with A 14" (Collier's, August 23, 1941 as "Pool-o'-the-Moon"')
  3. "Murder Strikes in Lychgate" (Collier's, April 11, 1941 as "Four and Twenty Cobblers")
  4. "The Laughing Buddha Finds a Purchaser" (Collier's, February 21, 1942 as "Laughing Buddha")
  5. "Warning from Rose of the Desert"
  6. "Lotus Yuan Loses Her Vanity Case" (Collier's, September 19, 1942 as "Blue Anemones")
  7. "The Scarab of Lapis Lazuli" (Collier's November 7, 1942 as "Serpent Wind")
  8. "Vengeance at the Lily Pool" (Collier's, February 13, 1942 as "The Man Who Killed Blackbirds")
  9. "Adventure in the Libyan Desert"
  10. "Pool-o'-the-Moon Sees Bimbashi Baruk"

Moris Klaw

There are 10 short stories featuring this detective and ghost-breaking hero, collected in The Dream Detective (1920)

  1. "Case of the Tragedies in the Greek Room" (The New Magazine, April 1913)
  2. "Case of the Potsherd of Anubis" (The New Magazine, May 1913)
  3. "Case of the Crusader's Ax" (The New Magazine, June 1913)
  4. "Case of the Ivory Statue" (The New Magazine, July 1913)
  5. "Case of the Blue Rajah" (The New Magazine, August 1913)
  6. "Case of the Whispering Poplars" (The New Magazine, September 1913)
  7. "Case of the Chord in G" (The New Magazine, October 1913)
  8. "Case of the Headless Mummies" (The New Magazine, November 1913)
  9. "Case of the Haunting Of Grange" (The New Magazine, December 1913)
  10. "Case of the Veil of Isis" (The New Magazine, January 1914)

Plays[edit]

Plays by Rohmer
Title First performance Notes Ref.
Round in Fifty 6 March 1922 by Rohmer and Julian & Lauri Wylie; first performed at the Cardiff Empire, Cardiff [74]
The Eye of Siva 8 August 1923 First performed at the New Theatre, London. Revived: Scala Theatre, 16 January 1933 [74]
Fu Manchu: A Chinese Melodrama 22 August 1927 by Rohmer and Willard Mack; originally written for Broadway in 1919, but not performed until Grand Opera House, Cincinnati, OH. Produced and directed by Stuart Walker [74]
Secret Egypt 4 August 1928 First performed at the Q Theatre, London [74]
The Nightingale 15 July 1947 by Rohmer and Michael Martin Harvey; first performed at the Prince's Theatre, London [2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Bickers 2004.
  2. ^ a b c d Murray 1988, p. 260.
  3. ^ Van Ash & Sax Rohmer 1972, p. 62.
  4. ^ a b c d Murray 1988, p. 261.
  5. ^ Lofts & Adley 1990, p. 35.
  6. ^ a b c Murray 1988, p. 263.
  7. ^ Murray 1988, p. 268.
  8. ^ a b Lofts & Adley 1990, p. 39.
  9. ^ "Bang went the Chance of the Lifetime! <Song.> Written and composed by S. Rohmer". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  10. ^ "Tom took Tickets for two, etc. <Song.>". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  11. ^ "I've been looking for you for Years, and Years and Years. <Song.>". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  12. ^ "The Camels' Parade. A Desert Arabesque". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  13. ^ "Aboo Tabah". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  14. ^ "The Pigtail of Li Fang Fu. [Musical monologue.]". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  15. ^ "Orange Blossoms. A Chinese Tale. [Musical monologue.]". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  16. ^ "Pause! (Hypotheses, Theorems, Parables.)". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  17. ^ "Little Tich : a book of travels and wanderings". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  18. ^ "The romance of sorcery / Sax Rohmer". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  19. ^ A re-statement of Alchemy by Richard Watson Councell, M.D. with a preface by Sax Rohmer. London: John M. Watkins.
  20. ^ Van Ash & Sax Rohmer 1972, pp. 76–77.
  21. ^ Murray 1988, pp. 258–59.
  22. ^ "Arthur Henry Sarsfield Ward". Contemporary Authors. Gale. Retrieved 3 January 2014. (subscription required)
  23. ^ "The Mystery of Dr. Fu-Manchu". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  24. ^ "The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu". Library of Congress Catalogue. Washington: Library of Congress. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  25. ^ "The Sins of Séverac Bablon". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  26. ^ Van Ash & Sax Rohmer 1972, p. 299.
  27. ^ "The Yellow Claw". Library of Congress Catalogue. Washington: Library of Congress. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  28. ^ "The Devil Doctor: hitherto unpublished adventures in the career of the mysterious Dr. Fu-Manchu". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  29. ^ "The Exploits of Captain O'Hagan, etc". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h i Lofts & Adley 1990, p. 40.
  31. ^ "The Si-Fan Mysteries, etc". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  32. ^ "Brood of the Witch-Queen". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  33. ^ "Tales of Secret Egypt". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  34. ^ "The Orchard of Tears". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  35. ^ "The Quest of the Sacred Slipper". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  36. ^ "Dope: a Story of Chinatown and the Drug Traffic". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  37. ^ "The Golden Scorpion". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  38. ^ "The Dream Detective". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  39. ^ "The Green Eyes of Bâst". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  40. ^ "The Haunting of Low Fennel". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  41. ^ "Bat-Wing". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  42. ^ "Fire-Tongue". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  43. ^ "Tales of Chinatown". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  44. ^ "Grey Face". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  45. ^ "Yellow Shadows". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  46. ^ a b c d e f g Van Ash & Sax Rohmer 1972, p. 301.
  47. ^ "Moon of Madness". Library of Congress Catalogue. Washington: Library of Congress. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  48. ^ "She who Sleeps, a Romance of New York and the Nile, by Sax Rohmer [pseud.]". Library of Congress Catalogue. Washington: Library of Congress. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  49. ^ "The Emperor of America, by Sax Rohmer [pseud.]". Library of Congress Catalogue. Washington: Library of Congress. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  50. ^ "The Day the World Ended ..." Library of Congress Catalogue. Washington: Library of Congress. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  51. ^ "Daughter of Fu Manchu / Sax Rohmer". Library of Congress Catalogue. Washington: Library of Congress. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  52. ^ "Yu'an Hee See laughs, by Sax Rohmer [pseud.]". Library of Congress Catalogue. Washington: Library of Congress. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  53. ^ "The mask of Fu Manchu". Library of Congress Catalogue. Washington: Library of Congress. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  54. ^ "Fu Manchu's Bride". Library of Congress Catalogue. Washington: Library of Congress. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  55. ^ Murray 1988, p. 258.
  56. ^ a b c d e f g h Van Ash & Sax Rohmer 1972, p. 302.
  57. ^ "The trial of Fu Manchu". Library of Congress Catalogue. Washington: Library of Congress. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  58. ^ "The bat flies low ..." Library of Congress Catalogue. Washington: Library of Congress. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  59. ^ "President Fu Manchu". Library of Congress Catalogue. Washington: Library of Congress. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  60. ^ "White Velvet". Library of Congress Catalogue. Washington: Library of Congress. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  61. ^ "The Drums of Fu Manchu [by] Sax Rohmer [pseud.]". Library of Congress Catalogue. Washington: Library of Congress. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  62. ^ "The Island of Fu Manchu". Library of Congress Catalogue. Washington: Library of Congress. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  63. ^ "Seven sins, by Sax Rohmer [pseud.]". Library of Congress Catalogue. Washington: Library of Congress. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  64. ^ "Shadow of Fu Manchu". Library of Congress Catalogue. Washington: Library of Congress. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  65. ^ a b c d e f Van Ash & Sax Rohmer 1972, p. 303.
  66. ^ "Hangover House, by Sax Rohmer [pseud.]". Library of Congress Catalogue. Washington: Library of Congress. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  67. ^ "Nude in mink". Library of Congress Catalogue. Washington: Library of Congress. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  68. ^ "Wulfheim. [A novel.]". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  69. ^ "Sumuru". Library of Congress Catalogue. Washington: Library of Congress. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  70. ^ "The fire goddess". Library of Congress Catalogue. Washington: Library of Congress. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  71. ^ "The Moon is Red". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  72. ^ "Return of Sumuru". Library of Congress Catalogue. Washington: Library of Congress. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  73. ^ "Sinister Madonna". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  74. ^ a b c d e f g Murray 1988, p. 259.
  75. ^ "Emperor Fu Manchu". British Library Catalogue. London: British Library. Retrieved 9 January 2014.

Sources[edit]

External links[edit]