Ernest Bramah

Born in 1867, this English author wrote under the pen name Ernest Bramah. He is especially remembered for two very different creations: Kai Lung, the storyteller-hero of a series of faux-Chinese fantasy tales, and Max Carrados, a blind detective whose powers of observation made him a standout in early crime fiction.

His work was admired for its wit, inventive plotting, and distinctive voice. Even when the settings were exotic or the mysteries intricate, the writing stayed light on its feet, mixing humor with sharp intelligence.

Although he died in 1942, his fiction has continued to find readers through reprints and anthologies, especially among fans of classic detective stories and imaginative short fiction.