Jacques Futrelle

Writer Jacques Futrelle will be totally unknown to most Americans - and anyone else for that matter. But despite his considerable literary output, most of Jacques' writings were sandwiched within the Edwardian Era. Of course, the reasons for the inglorious end of the Edwardian Era is worth an essay in itself, and the reason for Jacques' short career is well-known to Jacques' fans.

Yes, Jacques' fans. Perhaps we should have prefaced our qualification by saying Jacques is unknown to Americans (and anyone else) except for the myriad of mystery buffs who know him as the author of the short story, "The Problem of Cell 13". Often cited as one of the top mystery stories of all time, "The Problem of Cell 13" is not exactly a crime story and not exactly a mystery either. But the story did introduce the character, Professor Augustus S. F. X Van Dusen, Ph.D., LL.D., F.R.S., M.D., M.D.S., also known as "The Thinking Machine". And the Thinking Machine was ...

Well, if you want to learn a bit more about Jacques, his most famous literary creation, and the reason for his short literary tenure, you can - with no mystery - simply click here.