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Welcome, dear visitor, to our Library, currently a work in progress. Here, you will find information
on many books that relate to detective Charlie Chan.
Charlie Chan made his first appearance in print in the January 24, 1925 issue of The Saturday
Evening Post. In this magazine, the first installment of The House Without a Key by Earl Derr Biggers ran
for a month. Soon thereafter, this adventure was offered in book form, which began the appearance of numerous books
over the decades which continues to this day.
What follows is a humbly offered collection, in a chronological format, of most of the books that
have been published containing either stories of material directly related to Charlie Chan. As well, some other
books that have another, less direct connection, will be added.
We begin with the six original tomes by Earl Derr Biggers that contained Charlie Chan's original adventures.
These stories have been re-published by numerous companies over the years not just the United States but they have also
been printed in other countries around the world, including, but not limited to, Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany,
Italy, Spain, Sweden, and the land of Charlie Chan's ancestors...China...up to the present day!
The
House Without a Key
By Earl Derr Biggers
Originally published by The
Bobbs-Merrill Company (hardcover, 1925)
In this
first adventure, penned by Earl Derr Biggers, Charlie Chan solves a mystery involving a murder that occurs in his own Honolulu.
This story's popularity led to its being adapted to a 10-episode film serial, The House Without A Key (1926), starring
George Kuwa as Chan. In 1933, Charlie Chan's Greatest Case, starring Warner Oland, sprang from the pages
of this book.
The
Chinese Parrot
By Earl Derr Biggers
Originally published by The
Bobbs-Merrill Company (hardcover, 1926)
Earl Derr Biggers' second Charlie Chan novel took the detective to the California desert where
he uncovers the reason for the mysterious disappearance of a millionaire. As was true of the first Charlie
Chan mystery, this story led to another film, The Chinese Parrot (1927), which featured George Kuwa
as the detective. In 1934, Warner Oland starred in Charlie Chan's Courage, which was adapted from his
book.
Behind
That Curtain
By Earl Derr Biggers
Originally published by The
Bobbs-Merrill Company (hardcover, 1928)
Biggers' third
book in the Charlie Chan series involves the detective in a case that spans decades and continents, culminating in the city
of San Francisco. This novel provided the basis for the first "Charlie Chan" film to come out of Fox Film studios, Behind
That Curtain (1929), a "talkie" featuring E.L. Park, whose Chan appeared onscreen for but a few minutes
toward the end of the movie. This Biggers story was later the inspiration for two other Charlie Chan movies, Charlie
Chan's Chance (1932) and Murder Over New York (1940).
The
Black Camel
By Earl Derr Biggers
Originally published by The
Bobbs-Merrill Company (hardcover, 1929)
The death of Hollywood actress Shelah Fane in
her Waikiki beach house brings Charlie Chan of the Honolulu police to seek the identity of the killer. This was the
fourth of Earl Derr Biggers' books in the Charlie Chan series. The film of the same name, produced by Fox Films in 1931,
starred Warner Oland as Charlie Chan.
Charlie
Chan Carries On
By Earl Derr Biggers
Originally published by The
Bobbs-Merrill Company (hardcover, 1930)
The
fifth of the Earl Derr Biggers Charlie Chan books involves the Honolulu detective in a case of murder that stretches around
the world, as members of a tour group are dying, one by one. Chan carries on for a fallen colleague as the tour reaches
Honolulu. The Fox film Charlie Chan Carries On, the first movie in the Chan series, proper, starred
Warner Oland as Charlie Chan.
Keeper
of the Keys
By Earl Derr Biggers
Originally published by The
Bobbs-Merrill Company (hardcover, 1932)
Keeper
of the Keys was the final book written by Earl Derr Biggers before his passing a year later. In this last written
adventure, Charlie Chan travels to Lake Tahoe in California, soon becoming embroled in a case of murder there. No film
was ever based on this book, while brief elements may be detected in Charlie Chan in Reno (1939).
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The
Charlie Chan Omnibus
By Earl Derr Biggers
Grosset & Dunlap Publishers
(hardcover, 1932)
This
collection includes The House Without a Key, Behind That Curtain, and Keeper of the Keys.
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Between 1939 and 1942, a series of three "Better Little Books"
featuring adventures of Charlie Chan. These tales were adapted from the Chan newspaper comic strips that were produced
by noted cartoonist Alfred Andriola. Measuring 3 5/8 by 4 1/2 inches, each book contained a complete story with alternating
pages of imagery and correcponding text. These Chan adventures were also issued in a Spanish language version.
Inspector
Charlie Chan of the Honolulu Police
Drawn by Earl Alfred Andriola
The Whitman Publishing Company
(hardcover, 1939)
In London, Charlie Chan seeks to locate a kidnapped scientist
who has developed a formula for "Dark Light," something that would allow spies from other countries to photograph anything
through an invisible screen.
Inspector
Charlie Chan Solves a New Mystery
Drawn by Earl Alfred Andriola
The Whitman Publishing Company
(hardcover, 1940)
Charlie Chan works to solve a murder committed aboard the ship
he is sailing on, with the victim's talking macaw offering a valuable clue.
Inspector
Charlie Chan Villainy on the High Seas
Drawn by Earl Alfred Andriola
The Whitman Publishing Company
(hardcover, 1942)
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Quotations
From Charlie Chan
Compiled and Edited by Harvey
Chertok and Martha Torge
Crown Press (softcover, 1968)
This book features a compilation of indexed aphorisms as
collected from the 21 Charlie Chan films from Twentieth Century-Fox that were featured at the Museum of Modern Art in New
York City from March 4-17, 1968. Interestingly, a few sayings from the "lost" Charlie Chan movies appear as well.
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Charlie
Chan Returns
By Dennis Lynds
Bantam Books (softcover,
1974)
In 1974, Bantam Books released a full set of the six Charlie
Chan novels written by Earl Derr Biggers. A seventh book, containing a new, original story penned by Dennis Lynds,
was added to the set.
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In 1976, two volumes of Charlie Chan comic reprints were issued through a collaboration between American
and European comic art collectors. Both volumes featured Chan comics by noted artist Alfred Andriola which ran in newspapers
throughout the United States and Canada between 1938 and 1942. Evidently, a total of five such volumes were planned,
but the final three were never issued in the same format or quality. A "Volume 3" (of lesser production quality) was
later released by Pacific Comics Club and is described below.
Charlie
Chan's Adventures (Volume Primo)
Comics Stars in the World
(hardcover, 1976)
Contained in this well-produced volume are the daily strips
for the Charlie Chan newspaper comics by Alfred Andriola. Included are "dailies" that originally appeared between October
24, 1938 and November 18, 1939.
Charlie
Chan's Adventures (Volume Secondo)
Comics Stars in the World
(hardcover, 1976)
In this volume, also well-produced, are the Sunday
strips for the Charlie Chan newspaper comics by Alfred Andriola. Included are three-color reproductions of the strips
that originally appeared between October 30, 1938 and March 17, 1940. Also offered are daily strips (presented
in three-color format) that ran from November 20, 1939 and March 20, 1940.
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Charlie
Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen
By Michael Avallone
Pinnacle Books (softcover,
1981)
"They call her the Dragon Queen,
a woman of impenetrable mystery and unknown powers. Then someone makes the fatal mistake of putting her in jail for
murder. Years later, San Francisco is paralyzed by a wave of the most bizarre killings ever documented, each more unspeakable
than the last, each devoid of clues, at least to Western eyes. There is only one man who stands a chance of outsmarting the
killer - Charlie Chan."
This book contains a story that
was an adaptation of the Charlie Chan feature movie "spoof," Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon
Queen.
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Charlie
Chan: Five Complete Novels
Avenel Books (hardcover,
1989)
Contained
within this handsomely produced volume are five of the six Charlie Chan adventures by Earl Derr Biggers. Included
are The House Without a Key, The Chinese Parrot, Behind That Curtain, The Black
Camel, and Keeper of the Keys.
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Charlie
Chan at the Movies: History, Filmography, and Criticism
By Ken Hanke
McFarland & Company, Inc.
Publishers (hardcover, 1989; softcover, 2004)
In his extensive study of Charlie Chan films, the first such compilation
of research focusing specifically on Charlie Chan and Charlie Chan movies, Ken Hanke offers detailed information on the
films as well as their place in history. In gathering information for his book, Mr. Hanke interviewed Keye Luke, who
appeared on-screen as Chan's Number One Son, Lee. Mr. Luke's insights are interspersed throughout the book, offering
an interesting perspective.
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A
Guide to Charlie Chan Films
By Charles P. Mitchell
Greenwood Press (hardcover,
1999)
Ten years after the release of Ken Hanke's compendium of Charlie
Chan films and related information, Charlies Mitchell offered a book that, though similar in genre, offered new insights into
both Charlie Chan and the films featuring the globe-trotting detective. Not only are the movies from the series
proper presented, but many other Chan pictures, including foreign-made films. Throughout the book, Mr. Mitchell describes
as well as rates the movies. Also, the aphorisms stated by Charlie Chan are included.
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The Charlie
Chan Film Encyclopedia
By Howard M. Berlin
McFarland & Company, Inc.,
Publishers (hardcover, 2000; softcover, 2005)
This
was a highly anticipated book by Dr. Howard Berlin. When it became available, fans of Charlie Chan were treated to a
collection of information on the detective and his movies that remains unsurpassed. Everything from A to Z, from the
widely known to the trivial, is contained within the covers of this fascinating and most informative volume.
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Charlie
Chan's Words of Wisdom
By Howard M. Berlin
Wildside Press (softcover,
June 2001)
"A collection of 600 proverbs spoken by the cinema's favorite Oriental
detective." Dr. Berlin organized Charlie Chan's aphorisms by film, including a cast list for each of the movies.
After each saying is a note indicating the context of the proverb, noting the individual to whom the statement was directed.
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The following
two books each contain a selection from the four "Charlie Chan" stories that appeared in the short-lived Charlie
Chan Mystery Magazine, four issues of which appeared between November 1973 and August 1974. These stories featured
an "updated," anachronistic Charlie Chan who solved crimes in the 1970s. The Temple of the Golden Horde (from
the May 1974 issue) and The Pawns of Death (from the August 1974 issue) were penned by Bill
Pronzini and Jeffrey M. Wallmann who wrote under the pseudonym of Robert Hart Davis.
Charlie
Chan in The Temple of the Golden Horde
By Bill Pronzini and Jeffrey
M. Wallmann writing as Robert Hart Davis
Borgo Press (hardcover,
2002; softcover, 2003)
"Alive, he had been an innocent courier. Dead, he plunged Charlie
Chan into perhaps the deadliest game of murder in his distinguished career as he sought the terrible secret of - The
Temple of the Golden horde."
Charlie
Chan in The Pawns of Death
By Bill Pronzini and Jeffrey
M. Wallmann writing as Robert Hart Davis
Borgo Press (hardcover,
2002; softcover, 2003)
"Not one, but two murders committed in two locked rooms of the
luxurious Hotel Frontenac in Paris! It challenged all of Charlie Chan's ingenuity. He sought to unravel the tangle
of calumny, hate and twisted ambitions, with his only clue the whispered word from the halting lips of a dying reporter."
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Charlie Chan: The Untold Story of the Honorable Detective and His
Rendezvous with American History
by Yunte Huang
W.W. Norton and Company (hardcover,
August 2010)
In this
book, Yunte Huang has traced Charlie Chan's evolution from island legend, detective Chang Apana, to cultural icon to
vilified, postmodern symbol, ingeniously juxtaposing Apana's rough-and-tumble career against the larger backdrop of a territorial
Hawaii.
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The
Charlie Chan Mystery Movie Guide
by Luke Freeman
Parasolo (softcover, July
16, 2014)
The
Charlie Chan Mystery Movie Guide features a detailed commentary, analysis, and review on each of the
Charlie Chan films produced by Twentieth Century-Fox, including character studies and a detailed exploration of the themes
and philosophies prevalent through the series as well as cast lists and plot synopses. The author also offers new
take on the age-old Oland vs.Toler debate.
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Charlie
Chan Movie Poster Book
by Greg Lenburg
CreateSpace Publishing (softcover, February
27, 2015)
The Charlie
Chan Movie Poster Book presents posters and poster art from Charlie Chan films from 1931-1949 featuring
Warner Oland, Sidney Toler, and Roland Winters. Also included is the mystery/spoof Charlie Chan
and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (1981) starring Peter Ustinov.
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Charlie
Chan's Poppa: Earl Der Biggers
by Barbara Gregorich
Ohio History Connection (softcover, February
2, 2018)
As a sixteen-year-old, Barbara Gregorich discovered the Charlie
Chan novels of Earl Derr Biggers on the "local authors" shelf of the Warren, Ohio Public Library. She fell in love
with the wisdom, humor, and perceptiveness of the amiable Chinese-Hawaiian police detective, and she admired the author who
created him. Wanting to know more about Earl Derr Biggers and how he came to write his mysteries, Barbara Gregorich
researched the Bobbs-Merrill Archives at the Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington. There she read all the correspondence
between Biggers and his editor — correspondence which brings to life the author’s struggles to satisfy the Chan-hungry
public.
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The
Charlie Chan Films
by James L. Neibaur
BearManor Media (hardcover/softcover, May
1, 2018)
This book offers a
look at all of the films in the Charlie Chan series, including early ones that are now lost, examining each movie in context.
Common themes, critical assessments, discussion of the director and the actors, period reviews, production information, and
recollections from those who appeared in the films are all included.
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The
Library of American Comics Essentials Volume 13: Charlie Chan
By Alfred Andriola; Introduction
by Bruce Canwell
IDW Publishing (hardcover,
July 2019)
The collected complete
first year run of the Charlie Chan daily newspaper comic strip from October 31, 1938, to November 17,
1939.
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"OTHER" CHARLIE CHAN-RELATED MATERIAL:
We now come to a selection of books that either contain Charlie Chan-related
information or feature stories inspired by the detective:
Chasing
Charlie Chan
By Dave Crosby
PublishAmerica (softcover,
May 21, 2007)
Charlie Chandler is a young female cop who has earned a promotion
to detective. It's her dream come true since her late father and grandfather were both detectives. Both Charlie
and her father were great fans of the old Charlie Chan movies, so she applies the wisdom and sayings of the old movie character
as she tackles a new murder case with her new partner, Officer Mitchell Yen, a young man of Chinese ancestry.
Charlie
Chan, I Love You
By Dave Crosby
Perfect Paperback (softcover,
December 10, 2008)
In the second book of this short-lived series, Charlie
Chan I Love You (Charlie Chan Meets the Crypto Killer), Detective Charlie Chandler and her partner, Mitchell Yen, have
three new cases as the first detectives assigned to the cases have struck out.
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Making
the Detective Story American
By J.K. Van Dover
McFarland (softcover,
April 6, 2010)
This book examines the fiction of Earl Derr Biggers, S. S. Van
Dine, and Dashiell Hammett during a crucial half-decade when they transformed the detective story and the characters they
created, including Charlie Chan, Philo Vance, and the Continental Op.
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Chasing
Charlie Chan
By J.L. Abramo
Down & Out Books (softcover,
August 4, 2013)
Private detective Jimmy Pigeon is determined to discover who
killed his friend and partner, Lenny Archer. He may have to learn what became of the actor who portrayed Charlie
Chan in the thirties, and who assassinated a charismatic mobster in the late-forties, before he can identify Archer's killers.
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Mystery
of the Arizona Dragon
By Darryle Purcell
CreateSpace Independent Publishing
Platform; 1 edition (softcover, November 15, 2014)
When PR man Curly Woods and cowboy Hoot Gibson arrive at an Arizona dude ranch they find themselves up against a
supervillain with a deadly weapon. Sent by the studio to teach Warner Oland, Keye Luke, and the rest of the cast of
the new movie, "Charlie Chan Goes West," how to ride, Woods and Gibson find themselves in the midst of a situation that makes
the film's plot sound like a kiddie story.
Who
is the mysterious "Dragon" and why is he killing horses, ranchhands, and plotting a mass slaughter of miners? And, most
of all, why is he so determined to end our heroes' lives by any means necessary?
Suspects
include the film's stars, Oland and Luke, its German immigrant director, a cowboy actor who can't ride, a blonde getting her
first big break outside of comedy shorts, the ranch's beautiful but mysterious redheaded owner, and a bevy of Hollywood hopefuls.
Dust Bowl refugees, Arizona ranch hands, aerial battles, shootouts, underground traps and living creatures gathered
and released as weapons, spice up the action.
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Classic
American Crime Fiction of the 1920s
Annotated; Forward by Leslie
S. Klinger; Introduction by Otto Penzler
Pegusus Books, Ltd. (hardcover,
2018)
An annotated anthology containing five classic crime novels including a
Charlie Chan mystery, The House Without a Key, by Earl Derr Biggers.
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