Eugene T. Sawyer
Encyclopedia
Eugene Taylor Sawyer was a newspaper editor and author of dime novels, particularly for the Nick Carter
series. In an interview given in 1902, he confessed to having written over 75 examples of that genre, most anonymously. The New York Times referred to him as "The Prince of Dime Novelists" and the Washington Post as the "King of Dime Novelists", though others were actually more prolific. Still, Sawyer claimed to having written three 50,000-word novels in the space of one month, and on another occasion, finished a 60,000-word novel in just two days (while his wife brewed coffee round the clock).
Sawyer is one of four authors most commonly associated with the Nick Carter
series (the others being John R. Coryell, Frederick Van Rensselaer Dey
, and Thomas C. Harbaugh, though as many as 23 may have written both the books and magazine stories). As Time magazine noted in Sawyer's obituary, these particular four died within the space of a single two-year period (three in 1924 alone). Given that Dey committed suicide and Harbaugh died penniless, Sawyer is notable for having been seemingly buoyed rather than crushed by the experience, and for balancing the serial novel-writing with newspaper work and other more ordinary creative pursuits.
. Sawyer claimed to have been influenced at an early age by the oratory of Hannibal Hamlin
, Stephen A. Douglas
, James G. Blaine
and other local and visiting politicians. At 12 he was promoting and managing "barn entertainments" and in 1864 (at age 18) he set out for California
via Panama
. He finished his education at San Jose Institute, then tried his hand as a miner, druggist, and rancher before settling on newspaper work. In 1875 he was a correspondent for the San Francisco Chronicle
, but switched to the San Jose Mercury-Herald, where he eventually become Managing Editor. He was inspired to write dime novels by reading them, and was most influenced by the books of Ned Buntline
.
Besides the Nick Carter series, Sawyer wrote for the Log Cabin and Diamond Dick series. He once related that while Nick Carter paid $50 for a 25,000 word novel, Log Cabin paid twice as much (but required twice the length). He also published some dime novels under his own name, with titles like Manton Mayne, The San Francisco Detective, The Maltese Cross, The Oyster Pirates, The Tiger's Head Mystery, and The Black Riders of Santo, or, The Terror of Wood River.
In addition to his voluminous output of fiction, Sawyer produced at least two non-fiction works, the History of Santa Clara County, California (Historic Record Co., 1922) and The Life of Tiburcio Vasquez
, about a famous local outlaw. He was also a playwright and actor in a San Jose
amateur dramatic club.
He died in 1924.
Nick Carter (literary character)
Nick Carter is a fictional character who began as a pulp fiction private detective and has appeared in a variety of formats over more than a century.-Literary history:...
series. In an interview given in 1902, he confessed to having written over 75 examples of that genre, most anonymously. The New York Times referred to him as "The Prince of Dime Novelists" and the Washington Post as the "King of Dime Novelists", though others were actually more prolific. Still, Sawyer claimed to having written three 50,000-word novels in the space of one month, and on another occasion, finished a 60,000-word novel in just two days (while his wife brewed coffee round the clock).
Sawyer is one of four authors most commonly associated with the Nick Carter
Nick Carter (literary character)
Nick Carter is a fictional character who began as a pulp fiction private detective and has appeared in a variety of formats over more than a century.-Literary history:...
series (the others being John R. Coryell, Frederick Van Rensselaer Dey
Frederick Van Rensselaer Dey
Frederick Van Rensselaer Dey was an American dime novelist and pulp fiction writer.-Biography:He was born on February 10, 1861 in Watkins Glen, New York to David Peter Dey and Emma Brewster Sayre. He attended the Havana Academy, and later graduated from the Columbia Law School. He practiced law...
, and Thomas C. Harbaugh, though as many as 23 may have written both the books and magazine stories). As Time magazine noted in Sawyer's obituary, these particular four died within the space of a single two-year period (three in 1924 alone). Given that Dey committed suicide and Harbaugh died penniless, Sawyer is notable for having been seemingly buoyed rather than crushed by the experience, and for balancing the serial novel-writing with newspaper work and other more ordinary creative pursuits.
Biography
He was born on November 11, 1846 to Henry K. Sawyer in Bangor, MaineBangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
. Sawyer claimed to have been influenced at an early age by the oratory of Hannibal Hamlin
Hannibal Hamlin
Hannibal Hamlin was the 15th Vice President of the United States , serving under President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War...
, Stephen A. Douglas
Stephen A. Douglas
Stephen Arnold Douglas was an American politician from the western state of Illinois, and was the Northern Democratic Party nominee for President in 1860. He lost to the Republican Party's candidate, Abraham Lincoln, whom he had defeated two years earlier in a Senate contest following a famed...
, James G. Blaine
James G. Blaine
James Gillespie Blaine was a U.S. Representative, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, U.S. Senator from Maine, two-time Secretary of State...
and other local and visiting politicians. At 12 he was promoting and managing "barn entertainments" and in 1864 (at age 18) he set out for California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
via Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
. He finished his education at San Jose Institute, then tried his hand as a miner, druggist, and rancher before settling on newspaper work. In 1875 he was a correspondent for the San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
, but switched to the San Jose Mercury-Herald, where he eventually become Managing Editor. He was inspired to write dime novels by reading them, and was most influenced by the books of Ned Buntline
Ned Buntline
Ned Buntline , was a pseudonym of Edward Zane Carroll Judson , an American publisher, journalist, writer and publicist best known for his dime novels and the Colt Buntline Special he is alleged to have commissioned from Colt's Manufacturing Company.-Naval and military experience:Edward Judson was...
.
Besides the Nick Carter series, Sawyer wrote for the Log Cabin and Diamond Dick series. He once related that while Nick Carter paid $50 for a 25,000 word novel, Log Cabin paid twice as much (but required twice the length). He also published some dime novels under his own name, with titles like Manton Mayne, The San Francisco Detective, The Maltese Cross, The Oyster Pirates, The Tiger's Head Mystery, and The Black Riders of Santo, or, The Terror of Wood River.
In addition to his voluminous output of fiction, Sawyer produced at least two non-fiction works, the History of Santa Clara County, California (Historic Record Co., 1922) and The Life of Tiburcio Vasquez
Tiburcio Vasquez
Tiburcio Vásquez was a Californio bandit who was active in California from 1854 to 1874. The Vasquez Rocks, 40 miles north of Los Angeles, were one of his many hideouts and are named for him.-Early life:...
, about a famous local outlaw. He was also a playwright and actor in a San Jose
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
amateur dramatic club.
He died in 1924.