Leslie Charteris

Born in Singapore in 1907 as Leslie Charles Bowyer-Yin, he later became known to readers around the world as Leslie Charteris. He studied in England, changed his name in the 1920s, and began publishing while still very young.

His lasting fame came from creating Simon Templar, better known as the Saint. Starting with Meet the Tiger in 1928, Charteris built the character into the center of a hugely popular series of novels and story collections, blending mystery, action, humor, and a stylish sense of mischief.

Charteris also worked as a screenwriter, spent time in Hollywood, and eventually became a U.S. citizen before later returning to England. He died in 1993, but the Saint stories continued to shape crime and adventure fiction through films, radio, television, and reprints long after his lifetime.