Earl Derr Biggers is a famous author of detective series about Honolulu detective Charlie Chan. Yet, before creating his stellar character, Earl Derr Biggers wrote wonderful short stories that appeared in magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post. The stories in this collection are: "Moonlight at The Crossroads," "Selling Miss Minerva," "The Heart of The Loaf," "Possessions," "The Dollar Chasers," "Idle Hands," and "The Girl Who Paid Dividends," "A Letter to Australia," "Nina and the Blemish," "Broadway Broke."

Published in 1925, The House Without a Key introduces the kindly detective Charlie Chan, conceived by Earl Derr Biggers as a counter to the “Yellow Peril” stereotypes common in the era’s society. John Quincy Winterslip, having been sent by his family to convince his aunt to return to Boston, arrives in Honolulu to find that a rich family member with a shady past has been murdered. Detective Charlie Chan of the Honolulu Police Department recruits John to aid in the investigation. As he works to uncover the murderer, John learns about Chinese culture—and true love. This book is part of the Standard Ebooks project, which produces free public domain ebooks.

This early work by Earl Derr Biggers was originally published in 1929 and we are now republishing it with a brand new introductory biography. "The Black Camel" tells the story of a Hollywood star (Shelah Fane), who is stopping in Hawaii after she finished shooting a film on location in Tahiti. She is murdered in the pavilion of her renter house in Waikiki during her stay. Chan, in his position as a detective with the Honolulu Police Department, "investigates amid public clamor demanding that the murderer be found and punished immediately. "Death is a black camel that kneels unbidden at every gate. Tonight black camel has knelt here", Chan tells the suspects. Earl Derr Biggers was born on 26th August 1884 in Warren, Ohio, USA. Biggers received his further education at Harvard University, where he developed a reputation as a literary rebel, preferring the popular modern authors, such as Rudyard Kipling and Richard Harding Davis to the established figures of classical literature. Following in their footsteps upon graduating, he himself began a career as a popular writer, penning humorous articles and reviews for the Boston Traveler. While on holiday in Hawaii, Biggers heard tales of a real-life Chinese detective operating in Honolulu, named Chang Apana. This inspired him to create his most enduring legacy in the character of super-sleuth Charlie Chan. The first Chan story "The House Without a Key" (1925) was published as a serialised story in the Saturday Evening Post and then released as a novel in the same year. Biggers went on to write five more Chan novels and all were licensed for movie adaptations by Fox Films. These films were hugely popular with several different actors taking the lead role of Chan. Eventually; over 40 films were produced featuring the character. Biggers only saw the early on-screen successes of Charlie Chan due to his death at the age of only 48 from a heart attack in April 1933.

Earl Derr Biggers is renowned for his captivating mystery novels, and the EARL DERR BIGGERS Ultimate Collection compiles 20+ of his best works, including the iconic Charlie Chan series. Biggers's writing style combines suspenseful plot twists with insightful character development, creating a rich literary experience for readers. Set in the early 20th century, Biggers's novels offer a glimpse into the cultural and societal norms of the time, making them not only entertaining but also historically enlightening. The collection also includes illustrated editions, enhancing the visual experience of the stories. Overall, Biggers's work is a must-read for any mystery enthusiast or lover of classic literature. Earl Derr Biggers's background as a Harvard graduate and successful playwright provides insight into the meticulous crafting of his mystery novels. His unique storytelling ability stems from his keen observation of human behavior and his talent for creating complex yet relatable characters. Biggers's interest in detective fiction may have been inspired by the popular mystery genre of his time, driving him to create his own iconic series and characters. I highly recommend the EARL DERR BIGGERS Ultimate Collection to anyone looking for a compelling mystery read that offers both entertainment and historical context. Biggers's masterful storytelling and intriguing plots will keep readers engaged from beginning to end, making this collection a timeless addition to any bookshelf.

The House Without a Key Earl Derr Biggers The novel, which takes place in 1920s Hawaii, spends time acquainting the reader with the look and feel of the islands of that era from the standpoint of both white and non-white inhabitants, and describes social class structures and customs which have largely vanished in the 21st century. The novel deals with the murder of a former member of Boston society who has lived in Hawaii for a number of years. The main character is the victim's nephew, a straitlaced young Bostonian bond trader, who came to the islands to try to convince his aunt Minerva, whose vacation has extended many months, to return to Boston. The nephew, John Quincy Winterslip, soon falls under the spell of the islands himself, meets an attractive young woman, breaks his engagement to his straitlaced Bostonian fiancee Agatha, and decides after the murder is solved to move to San Francisco. In the interval, he is introduced to many levels of Hawaiian society and is of some assistance to Detective Charlie Chan in solving the mystery. We are delighted to publish this classic book as part of our extensive Classic Library collection. Many of the books in our collection have been out of print for decades, and therefore have not been accessible to the general public. The aim of our publishing program is to facilitate rapid access to this vast reservoir of literature, and our view is that this is a significant literary work, which deserves to be brought back into print after many decades. The contents of the vast majority of titles in the Classic Library have been scanned from the original works. To ensure a high quality product, each title has been meticulously hand curated by our staff. Our philosophy has been guided by a desire to provide the reader with a book that is as close as possible to ownership of the original work. We hope that you will enjoy this wonderful classic work, and that for you it becomes an enriching experience.

This early work by Earl Derr Biggers was originally published in 1930 and we are now republishing it with a brand new introductory biography. "Charlie Chan Carries On" is the fifth novel in the Charlie Chan series. Inspector Duff, a Scotland Yard detective and friend of Chan's, first introduced in Behind That Curtain, is pursuing a murderer on an around-the-world voyage; so far, there have been murders in London, France, Italy and Japan. While his ship is docked in Honolulu, the detective is shot and wounded by his quarry; though he survives, he is unable to continue with the cruise, and Chan takes his place instead. Earl Derr Biggers was born on 26th August 1884 in Warren, Ohio, USA. Biggers received his further education at Harvard University, where he developed a reputation as a literary rebel, preferring the popular modern authors, such as Rudyard Kipling and Richard Harding Davis to the established figures of classical literature. Following in their footsteps upon graduating, he himself began a career as a popular writer, penning humorous articles and reviews for the Boston Traveler. While on holiday in Hawaii, Biggers heard tales of a real-life Chinese detective operating in Honolulu, named Chang Apana. This inspired him to create his most enduring legacy in the character of super-sleuth Charlie Chan. The first Chan story "The House Without a Key" (1925) was published as a serialised story in the Saturday Evening Post and then released as a novel in the same year. Biggers went on to write five more Chan novels and all were licensed for movie adaptations by Fox Films. These films were hugely popular with several different actors taking the lead role of Chan. Eventually; over 40 films were produced featuring the character. Biggers only saw the early on-screen successes of Charlie Chan due to his death at the age of only 48 from a heart attack in April 1933.

The American novelist and short story writer Earl Derr Biggers is best remembered today for his literary creation Charlie Chan. A shrewd Chinese-American detective on the Honolulu police force, Charlie is the protagonist of a series of six mystery detective novels that spawned popular feature films, radio dramas and comic strips. Biggers also wrote World War dramas, humorous tales and gripping adventure stories. For the first time in publishing history, this eBook presents Earl Derr Biggers’ complete works, with numerous illustrations, rare texts, informative introductions and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1) * Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Biggers’ life and works * Concise introductions to the novels and other texts * All 11 novels, with individual contents tables * The complete Charlie Chan Series * Images of how the books were first published, giving your eReader a taste of the original texts * Excellent formatting of the texts * Features rare short stories, appearing for the first time in digital publishing * Biggers’ rare poetry, written during his student days at Harvard * Scholarly ordering of texts into chronological order and genres Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of exciting titles CONTENTS: The Charlie Chan Series The House without a Key (1925) The Chinese Parrot (1926) Behind That Curtain (1928) The Black Camel (1929) Charlie Chan Carries On (1930) Keeper of the Keys (1932) Other Novels Seven Keys to Baldpate (1913) Love Insurance (1914) Inside the Lines (1915) The Agony Column (1916) Fifty Candles (1921) The Short Stories Earl Derr Biggers Tells Ten Stories (1933) Uncollected Stories The Poetry Miscellaneous Verses Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of exciting titles or to purchase this eBook as a Parts Edition of individual eBooks