BOOK REVIEWS
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“The Age of Technology,” “The Detective and Detective Writer,” and “Women
in Life and Fiction” all help to round out the various social and cultural contexts
in which Le Queux lived and wrote. This includes his contribution to the “war in
the air” genre; for example, his use of technological themes (x-ray weapons,
laser guns, and germ warfare), and an interesting early feminist interest in
capable and courageous women protagonists. William Le Queux: Master o f
Mystery makes an important addition to the mystery and spy-novel field, but
will also appeal to those interested more widely in the development of popular
print culture during the Edwardian period.
Kenneth Payne, Kuwait University