The Way of an Eagle (ePub)

Ethel M. Dell (1881-1939) was an English romantic fiction writer whose literary career began to shine with her first novel, 'The Way of an Eagle' (1912), which became an instant bestseller. Born Ethel May Dell in Streatham, a suburb of London, she was the elder daughter of a wealthy family. Dell's literary style was characterized by her intense emotional narratives, which often featured exotic settings and impassioned love stories that appealed to a wide readership, especially among women, during the early 20th century. Despite criticism from some literary circles for being overly sentimental, Dell's works resonated with her audience, leading to remarkable commercial success. Dell published over thirty novels, and although 'The Way of an Eagle' is perhaps the most well-known, her other works like 'The Knave of Diamonds' and 'The Rocks of Valpré' also contributed significantly to her popularity. Preceding the era of mass-market paperbacks, her books were widely circulated in hardcover, attesting to their popularity and the demand among readers for romantic escapism intertwined with adventurous plots. Dell's novels have been noted for their ability to transport readers beyond the confines of their everyday lives into realms of dramatic passion and heart-wrenching dilemmas. Despite the evolution of literary tastes, Ethel M. Dell's contributions to the genre of romantic fiction remain a testament to the power of storytelling to capture the human imagination.