Discovering Leslie Charteris: The Mastermind Behind ‘The Saint’
Born in 1907, Leslie Charteris was a celebrated British author, primarily known for his crime thriller and adventure novels. His lineage was a mix of Taiwanese and British heritage, as he was born to a British mother and Taiwanese father in Singapore. Charteris’ educational journey began at Rossall School in Lancashire, England, then he moved on to King’s College, Cambridge. However, his innate passion for writing led him to leave formal education prematurely.
He explored his love for words by developing the globally-adored ‘The Saint’ series books in order, featuring the lead character Simon Templar. His exemplary creation included a rich collection of over 100 novels, novellas, and short stories. The series was such a success that it led to the production of 16 films and three distinct television series, etching a permanent mark on the global literature and entertainment landscape.
Kickstarting His Literary Journey: Leslie Charteris’ First Published Work
Charteris’ literary journey began in 1927 with the publication of his novel, X Esquire. Interestingly, this work was one of his few standalone novels as most of his oeuvre mainly involves his charming character, Simon Templar. Not limiting his talent to writing, Charteris proved his storytelling abilities through the visual medium. He penned several screenplays for Hollywood giants like Paramount, RKO, Universal, and MGM.
The final addition to his renowned ‘The Saint’ series was the 1964 novel, Vendetta for the Saint. However, the love for the series didn’t stop there. Future novels in the series were carried forward by other writers, each adding their unique style while maintaining the essence of Charteris’ creation.
Here’s the list of Leslie Charteris’ books in order of their original publication dates:
Legacy of Leslie Charteris: The Saint Series Continues
Publication Order of Bill Kennedy Books
| X Esquire | (1927) |    |
| The White Rider | (1928) | |