Edward Phillips Oppenheim

Edward Phillips Oppenheim Biography

Edward Phillips Oppenheim (22 October 1866 – 3 February 1946) was a prolific English novelist, best known for his suspenseful tales of international intrigue and espionage. Born in Tottenham, London, he was the son of a leather merchant, Edward John Oppenheim, and his wife, Henrietta Susannah Temperley Budd. Oppenheim attended Wyggeston Grammar School in Leicester but left at sixteen to assist in his father's business, where he worked for nearly two decades.

Despite his business commitments, Oppenheim nurtured a passion for writing. His father subsidized the publication of his first novel, Expiation (1887), which broke even financially. Between 1908 and 1912, he published five novels under the pseudonym "Anthony Partridge." Around 1900, a wealthy New York leather merchant, Julien Stevens Ulman, purchased the family business, appointing Oppenheim as a salaried director, thereby granting him the financial stability to focus on his writing career.

Oppenheim's literary breakthrough came with The Mysterious Mr. Sabin (1898), which he described as "the first of my long series of stories dealing with that shadowy and mysterious world of diplomacy." His works, characterized by glamorous characters and fast-paced plots, gained immense popularity, earning him the moniker "Prince of Storytellers." Over his career, he authored more than 150 novels, including The Great Impersonation (1920), which sold over a million copies.

During World War I, Oppenheim contributed to the British war effort by working for the Ministry of Information. Post-war, he and his family resided in France, where he continued to write prolifically. In 1927, he was featured on the cover of Time magazine, a testament to his international acclaim. Oppenheim passed away on 3 February 1946 in St. Peter Port, Guernsey, leaving behind a legacy as a master of the thriller genre.

Trivia About Edward Phillips Oppenheim

• Oppenheim was known to have written some of his earlier works under the pseudonym "Anthony Partridge."
• He was featured on the cover of Time magazine on 12 September 1927.
• Oppenheim's novel The Great Impersonation sold over a million copies, marking one of his most significant commercial successes.
• He was often referred to as the "Prince of Storytellers" due to his prolific output and popularity.

Famous Quotes by Edward Phillips Oppenheim

• "The man who is not quite sure whether he believes in God or not, is generally pretty certain that he does not."
• "A man is known by the company he keeps, and also by the company from which he is kept out."

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who was Edward Phillips Oppenheim?

Edward Phillips Oppenheim was an English novelist renowned for his suspenseful tales of international intrigue and espionage. He authored over 150 novels and was a prominent figure in early 20th-century popular fiction.

What are some of Oppenheim's most famous works?

Some of his most notable works include The Mysterious Mr. Sabin (1898), The Great Impersonation (1920), and The Double Life of Mr. Alfred Burton (1913).

Did Oppenheim use any pseudonyms?

Yes, between 1908 and 1912, he published five novels under the pseudonym "Anthony Partridge."

Related Literary Movements

Oppenheim was a pioneer in the thriller genre, particularly in spy fiction. His works often featured elements of romance and adventure, contributing to the popularity of genre fiction in the early 20th century.

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