Sax Rohmer created Dr. Fu Manchu series

Sax Rohmer

It is the birthday of English novelist Sax Rohmer (1883), who wrote the famed Dr. Fu Manchu mystery novels. The first one appeared as a magazine serial from October 1912 until June 1913. Fu Manchu was a master criminal given to unusual methods to carry out his murderous plots, including poisonous fungi and bacteria, cobras, pythons and groups of thieves and murderers. He supported his activities with white slavery and drug dealing. He was opposed in the series by Denis Nayland Smith, a detective in the Sherlock Holmes tradition but not nearly as clever. Fu Manchu became a stereotype villain and was featured not only in Rohmer's books but also in movies, television, radio and comics for more than 90 years.