The Council Of Justice: 2 (Four Just Men) - Softcover

Wallace, Edgar

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1842326708 ISBN 13: 9781842326701

Publisher: House of Stratus, 2001

Synopsis

There are crimes for which no punishment is adequate, offences that the written law cannot efface. Herein lies the justification forThe Council of Justice - a meeting of great and passionless intellects. These men are indifferent to world opinion. They relentlessly wage their wits and cunning against powerful underworld organisations, against past masters of villainy and against minds equally astute. To breakers of the unwritten laws they deal death.

About this title

Review:

Just occasionally you get a narrator who is so perfectly matched to his material that you can t help but smile. The orotund sonority of Bill Homewood's voice gives a stately and cinematic intensity to Edgar Wallace s The Council of Justice. Bombs and bombast, passion and punch-ups, and a mind-boggling escape from execution keep the listener agog. --The Times

The sequel to The Four Just Men, Edgar Wallace's The Council of Justice continues the story of four very unusual men that have banded together to bring justice to those special cases that ordinary laws are unable to deal with. The penalty for such miscreants is death. In The Council of Justice these four self-appointed vigilantes take on an international anarchist terrorist organization called 'The Red Hundred' and are able to stop a campaign of both selected and mass killings before they can be carried out. In the aftermath however, one of the leaders of 'The Red Hand' betrays the secret identity of the leader of the Four Just Men, leading to his capture by the British police. How can his comrades free him from the condemned man's cell inside a fortress prison guarded by divisions of police? As with The Four Just Men, the plot of The Council Of Justice is simply fascinating and engages the listener's rapt attention from beginning to end. Superbly narrated by Bill Homewood who does full and complete justice to Edgar Wallace's imaginative and suspenseful story, complete and unabridged, technologically flawless in production values, The Council Of Justice is enthusiastically recommended for personal and community library audio book collections. - --The Audiobook Shelf, Midwest Book Review

Wallace's classic crime novel which marks the second appearance of his 'Four Just Men' and was first published in 1908 is given a distinguished reading by narrator Bill Homewood. The Council (as the Four Just Men are also known) is a group of wealthy, like-minded gentlemen who band together to deal out their own harsh and deadly judgements to criminals outside the reach of the law. This time around, the Council turns its attention to a dangerous group of anarchists called the Red Hundred, and its most captivating member, the mysterious Woman of Gratz. Homewood's rich, eloquent narration fits perfectly with Wallace's tale of post-Victorian intrigue. His dignified delivery of the book's descriptive passages perfectly captures the era's drawing rooms and gentleman's clubs where stories are shared over brandy and cigars. At the same time, Homewood manages to embody a wide range of characters, giving each its own distinctive voice. Although the story can be melodramatic and over the top, Homewood does such an entertaining job that the listener can just sit back, relax, and enjoy the fun. --Publishers Weekly

The Council of Justice is a critically acclaimed novel by English writer Edgar Wallace, the co-creator of King Kong, who died in 1932. In an understated yet effective performance, Bill Homewood brings Wallace's work to life. The second novel in the Four Just Men series focuses on four anarchists who believe they are above the law as they protect society. They kill for a greater cause that of justice. The story is more complex and more intellectual than many contemporary novels, yet Homewood's methodical style and measured tone help make the dialogue accessible. His narration allows listeners to focus on why four men believe their perspective is more accurate than everyone else's. The Council of Justice is an excellent introduction to this master writer. --AudioFile

About the Author:

Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace was born illegitimately in Greenwich, London, in 1875 to actors Mary Jane Richards and T.H. Edgar. As an infant he was adopted by George Freeman, a porter at Billingsgate fish market. Aged eleven, Wallace sold newspapers at Ludgate Circus and upon leaving school took a job with a printer. He later enlisted in the Royal West Kent Regiment, before transferring to the Medical Staff Corps, and was sent to South Africa. In 1898, he published a collection of poems called 'The Mission that Failed', and subsequently left the army to become correspondent for Reuters. South African war correspondent for 'The Daily Mail' followed and his articles were later published as 'Unofficial Dispatches'. His outspokenness infuriated Lord Kitchener, who removed his credentials. He then edited the 'Rand Daily Mail', but gambled disastrously on the South African Stock Market. Returning to England, Wallace at first reported on crimes and hanging trials, before becoming editor of 'The Evening News'. It was in 1905 that he founded the Tallis Press, publishing 'Smithy', a collection of soldier stories, and 'The Four Just Men'. The latter was published with the ending removed as an advertising stunt and he offered œ500 to readers who could successfully guess the ending. Unfortunately, many did and he was almost bankrupted. At various times Wallace also worked as a journalist on 'The Standard', 'The Star', 'The Week-End Racing Supplement' and 'The Story Journal'. In 1917, he became a Special Constable at Lincoln's Inn and also a special interrogator for the War Office. The Daily Mail sent Wallace to investigate atrocities in the Belgian Congo, a trip that provided material for his 'Sanders of the River' books. In 1923, he became Chairman of the Press Club and in 1931 stood as a Liberal Parliamentary candidate for Blackpool. Wallace's first marriage in 1901 to Ivy Caldecott, daughter of a missionary, ended in divorce in 1918 and he later married his much younger secretary, Violet King. Along with countless articles, some 23 screenplays and many short stories, Wallace wrote more than 170 books, which have been translated into 28 languages and sales of which have exceeded 50 million copies. Over 160 films have been made from his books - more than any other author. In the 1920's one of Wallace's many publishers claimed that a quarter of all books read in England were written by him. His sales were exceeded only by 'The Bible'. He died in 1932 whilst working on the screenplay for 'King Kong', having moved to Hollywood after being offered a contract by RKO.

About this edition

• Publisher: House of Stratus
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 1842326708
• ISBN 13: 9781842326701
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 234