“Evil genius” might come to mind when you hear that Sax Rohmer once lived near Herne Hill Baptist Church. He was the creator of Dr. Fu Manchu.
Let’s delve into a story not directly about the church itself but about a famous resident nearby. This will enrich our understanding of the area surrounding Herne Hill Baptist Church. Arthur Henry Ward, a name perhaps less familiar, resided at 51 Herne Hill.
He was better known by his pen name, Sax Rohmer. Rohmer lived here from 1910 to 1919. A blue plaque now marks this location. The Greater London Council put it up in 1985.
Sax Rohmer gained fame as a writer. He is most notably known for his Dr. Fu Manchu novels. Dr. Fu Manchu is an evil genius. Rohmer’s creation stirred both excitement and controversy.
Born in Birmingham in 1883, Arthur Henry Ward moved to South London in the 1880s. Before becoming a novelist, he worked various jobs. These included being a clerk and a newspaper reporter. He even ghostwrote for comedians.
His interest in Egyptology and the occult inspired him. This led to his first short story, “The Mysterious Mummy” in 1903. He wrote it under the name Arthur Sarsfield Ward.
Writing as Sax Rohmer, his first Fu Manchu story was serialised in 1912. The Mystery of Fu Manchu introduced a villain. He was described as ‘the yellow peril incarnate in one man’. Fu Manchu aimed for world domination. His methods included white slavery and drug trafficking. His den was located in dockside Limehouse.
Rohmer’s early life took an interesting turn when he married Rose Elizabeth Knox. She was a variety-act juggler. Her sister was a member of The Crazy Gang. The couple moved into 51 Herne Hill. They shared the house with Rohmer’s father.
Rohmer wrote the first three Fu Manchu novels at his Herne Hill home. These books appeared between 1913 and 1917. The couple found the house a trifle larger than they needed. In 1919, they moved to Bruton Street in Mayfair.
The Fu Manchu books emerged after the Boxer Rebellion. They played on fears about British imperial decline. They also addressed Asian immigration and opium dens. These stories were sensational and popular at the time.
Rohmer once said that the conditions were ideal for launching a Chinese villain. He wasn’t the first to portray East End opium dens. Charles Dickens and Arthur Conan Doyle also wrote about this world.
Despite killing off Fu Manchu several times, Rohmer wrote 13 Fu Manchu novels. The books became films. Fu Manchu became as famous as Dracula and Sherlock Holmes. Rohmer became one of the highest-paid novelists.
Sax Rohmer’s work had a mix of pantomime villainy and gothic horror. The books secured a place among cult pulp fiction. Though controversial, Rohmer’s work left a mark on literature. His former home near Herne Hill Baptist Church reminds us of this.