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The Four Just Men #2
The Council of Justice
There are crimes for which no punishment is adequate, offences that the written law cannot efface. Herein lies the justification for The Council of Justice - a meeting of great and passionless intellects. These men are indifferent to world opinion. They relentlessly wage their wits and cunning against powerful underworld organisations, against past masters of villainy and against minds equally astute. To breakers of the unwritten laws they deal death.
200 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1908
About the author
Edgar Wallace
2,125 books247 followersRichard Horatio Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) was a prolific British crime writer, journalist and playwright, who wrote 175 novels, 24 plays, and countless articles in newspapers and journals.
Over 160 films have been made of his novels, more than any other author. In the 1920s, one of Wallace's publishers claimed that a quarter of all books read in England were written by him.
He is most famous today as the co-creator of "King Kong", writing the early screenplay and story for the movie, as well as a short story "King Kong" (1933) credited to him and Draycott Dell. He was known for the J. G. Reeder detective stories, The Four Just Men, the Ringer, and for creating the Green Archer character during his lifetime.
Over 160 films have been made of his novels, more than any other author. In the 1920s, one of Wallace's publishers claimed that a quarter of all books read in England were written by him.
He is most famous today as the co-creator of "King Kong", writing the early screenplay and story for the movie, as well as a short story "King Kong" (1933) credited to him and Draycott Dell. He was known for the J. G. Reeder detective stories, The Four Just Men, the Ringer, and for creating the Green Archer character during his lifetime.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 28, 2020
The Council of Justice is the second book in The Four Just Men series. At least I guess it is, if there was another one between the two I don't have it. We move right from the first book to the second so easily it is like just turning the page and continuing to the next chapter. We still have Gonsalez, Poiccart, and Manfred, but we're missing a fourth after that ending of the last book. We are told in the beginning of the book that they are equally guilty or great according to the light in which you view their acts. We're told from the standpoint of us, who live within the law, their methods were "terrible, indefensible, revolting". But it doesn't matter because they are indifferent to the opinions of the human race.
This time they have to stop the "Red Hundred", these are a bunch of bad guys, communists maybe, anarchists probably, whatever they are, they are running around doing terrible things all over London. Now there were a few things I had trouble understanding, like were there more or less than a hundred people in this group, why was there only one woman in the group, and why did everyone practically worship her? I didn't see that she did anything worth worshiping. She mostly just stood around while men yelled at each other. Then there is Mr. Long, who is really Mr. Jessen, a not particularly interesting person to me until he disappears and a note left on his table saying:
Mr. Long being necessary for our purpose, we have taken him.
Mr. Long, or is it Jessen will appear again just as mysteriously as he disappeared, and go about his life as if nothing strange happened.
Meanwhile, our four, I mean three just men happen to meet up with that wonderful woman, the woman of Gratz, she is called, I don't know why. She meets Manfred this one time, and hates him.
"Here is the light you want, she went on, 'not so easily do we of the Red Hundred illuminate the gloom of despair and oppression -'
'Spare me your speechmaking,' said Manfred coldly, and the scorn in his voice struck her like the lash of a whip. For the first time the color came to her face and her eyes lit with anger.
'You have bad counsellors,' Manfred went on, 'you, who talk of autocrats and corrupt kingship - what are you but a puppet living on flattery? It is your whim that you should be regarded as a conspirator - a Corday. And when you are acclaimed Princess Revolutionary, it is satisfactory to your vanity - more satisfactory than your title to be hailed Princess Beautiful.'
'I shall know you again,' she said with an intensity of passion that made her voice tremble. 'I shall look for you and find you, and be it the Princess Revolutionary or the Princess Beautiful who brings about your punishment, be sure I shall strike hard.'
But back to Jessen, you see the Red Hundred seems to manage to capture one of the four just men. They are all thrilled, they all gather in the black-draped chamber of the woman of Gratz. She comes in and sits at a seat higher than the rest. She looks around at all the men gathered there, she rises and gives them one of her famous speeches, who knew she made famous speeches? Then the prisoner was brought in, he is accused of all sorts of things, he admits all sorts of things, then this happens:
'Do you deny that you helped slay our comrade Starque?'
'I do not deny it,' he said easily, 'I did not help-I killed him.'
'Ah!' the exclamation came simultaneously from every throat.
'Do you deny that you have killed many of the Red Hundred?'
He paused before he answered.
'As to the Red Hundred - I do not know; but I have killed many people.' He spoke with the grave air of a man filled with a sense of responsibility, and again the exclamatory hum ran through the hall. Yet, the Woman of Gratz had a growing sense of unrest in spite of the success of the examination.
'You have said you were in Russia - did men fall to your hand there?'
He nodded.
'And in England?'
'Also in England,' he said.
'What is your name?' she asked. By an oversight it was a question - she had not put before.
The man shrugged his shoulders.
'Does it matter?' he asked. A thought struck her. In the hall she had seen Magnus the Jew. He had lived for many years in England, and she beckoned him.
'Of what class is this man?' she asked in a whisper.
'Of the lower orders,' he replied; ' it is astounding - did you not notice when - no, you did not see his capture. But he spoke like a man of the streets, dropping his aspirates.'
He saw she looked puzzled and explained.
'It is a trick of the order - just as the Moujik says..'he treated her to a specimen of colloquial Russian.
'What is your name?' she asked again.
He looked at her slyly.
'In Russia they called me Father Kopab...'
The majority of those who were present were Russian, and at the word they sprang to their feet, shrinking back with ashen faces, as though they feared contact with the man who stood bound and helpless in the middle of the room.
The Woman of Gratz had risen with the rest. Her lips quivered and her wide open eyes spoke her momentary terror.
'I killed Starque,' he went on, 'by authority. Francois also. Some day' - he looked leisurely about the room - I shall also -'
'Stop!' she cried, and then:
'Release him,' she said, and, wonderingly, Schmidt cut the bonds that bound him. He stretched himself.
'When you took me,' he said, 'I had a book; you will understand that here in England I find - forgetfulness in books - and I, who have seen so much suffering and want caused through departure from the law, am striving as hard for the regeneration of mankind as you - but differently.'
Somebody handed him a book.
He looked at it, nodded, and slipped it into his pocket.
'Farewell,' he said as he turned to the open door.
'In God's name!' said the Woman of Gratz, trembling, 'go in peace, Little Father.'
And the man Jessen, sometime headsman to the Supreme Council, and latterly public executioner of England, walked out, no man barring his exit.
I'm not sure what's going on with Jessen, but I do know with him around we wouldn't need the Four Just Men at all. Because after this they all leave, every day a few more of the Red Hundred make their way out of London until none are left. And none of that matters anymore, because now, finally, one of the Four Just Men is captured by the police. It is Manfred and he is turned in by the Woman of Gratz who now realizes she loves him. If that doesn't make sense to you it didn't to me either. But he's in prison waiting to be executed, and it's up to the Three Just Men, or two, depending on how you look at it, to save him. I hope they can or we'll be down to two just men and soon the entire series will be over for lack of just men. But there is another book, and it's waiting for me to start reading, so here I go. Happy reading.
This time they have to stop the "Red Hundred", these are a bunch of bad guys, communists maybe, anarchists probably, whatever they are, they are running around doing terrible things all over London. Now there were a few things I had trouble understanding, like were there more or less than a hundred people in this group, why was there only one woman in the group, and why did everyone practically worship her? I didn't see that she did anything worth worshiping. She mostly just stood around while men yelled at each other. Then there is Mr. Long, who is really Mr. Jessen, a not particularly interesting person to me until he disappears and a note left on his table saying:
Mr. Long being necessary for our purpose, we have taken him.
Mr. Long, or is it Jessen will appear again just as mysteriously as he disappeared, and go about his life as if nothing strange happened.
Meanwhile, our four, I mean three just men happen to meet up with that wonderful woman, the woman of Gratz, she is called, I don't know why. She meets Manfred this one time, and hates him.
"Here is the light you want, she went on, 'not so easily do we of the Red Hundred illuminate the gloom of despair and oppression -'
'Spare me your speechmaking,' said Manfred coldly, and the scorn in his voice struck her like the lash of a whip. For the first time the color came to her face and her eyes lit with anger.
'You have bad counsellors,' Manfred went on, 'you, who talk of autocrats and corrupt kingship - what are you but a puppet living on flattery? It is your whim that you should be regarded as a conspirator - a Corday. And when you are acclaimed Princess Revolutionary, it is satisfactory to your vanity - more satisfactory than your title to be hailed Princess Beautiful.'
'I shall know you again,' she said with an intensity of passion that made her voice tremble. 'I shall look for you and find you, and be it the Princess Revolutionary or the Princess Beautiful who brings about your punishment, be sure I shall strike hard.'
But back to Jessen, you see the Red Hundred seems to manage to capture one of the four just men. They are all thrilled, they all gather in the black-draped chamber of the woman of Gratz. She comes in and sits at a seat higher than the rest. She looks around at all the men gathered there, she rises and gives them one of her famous speeches, who knew she made famous speeches? Then the prisoner was brought in, he is accused of all sorts of things, he admits all sorts of things, then this happens:
'Do you deny that you helped slay our comrade Starque?'
'I do not deny it,' he said easily, 'I did not help-I killed him.'
'Ah!' the exclamation came simultaneously from every throat.
'Do you deny that you have killed many of the Red Hundred?'
He paused before he answered.
'As to the Red Hundred - I do not know; but I have killed many people.' He spoke with the grave air of a man filled with a sense of responsibility, and again the exclamatory hum ran through the hall. Yet, the Woman of Gratz had a growing sense of unrest in spite of the success of the examination.
'You have said you were in Russia - did men fall to your hand there?'
He nodded.
'And in England?'
'Also in England,' he said.
'What is your name?' she asked. By an oversight it was a question - she had not put before.
The man shrugged his shoulders.
'Does it matter?' he asked. A thought struck her. In the hall she had seen Magnus the Jew. He had lived for many years in England, and she beckoned him.
'Of what class is this man?' she asked in a whisper.
'Of the lower orders,' he replied; ' it is astounding - did you not notice when - no, you did not see his capture. But he spoke like a man of the streets, dropping his aspirates.'
He saw she looked puzzled and explained.
'It is a trick of the order - just as the Moujik says..'he treated her to a specimen of colloquial Russian.
'What is your name?' she asked again.
He looked at her slyly.
'In Russia they called me Father Kopab...'
The majority of those who were present were Russian, and at the word they sprang to their feet, shrinking back with ashen faces, as though they feared contact with the man who stood bound and helpless in the middle of the room.
The Woman of Gratz had risen with the rest. Her lips quivered and her wide open eyes spoke her momentary terror.
'I killed Starque,' he went on, 'by authority. Francois also. Some day' - he looked leisurely about the room - I shall also -'
'Stop!' she cried, and then:
'Release him,' she said, and, wonderingly, Schmidt cut the bonds that bound him. He stretched himself.
'When you took me,' he said, 'I had a book; you will understand that here in England I find - forgetfulness in books - and I, who have seen so much suffering and want caused through departure from the law, am striving as hard for the regeneration of mankind as you - but differently.'
Somebody handed him a book.
He looked at it, nodded, and slipped it into his pocket.
'Farewell,' he said as he turned to the open door.
'In God's name!' said the Woman of Gratz, trembling, 'go in peace, Little Father.'
And the man Jessen, sometime headsman to the Supreme Council, and latterly public executioner of England, walked out, no man barring his exit.
I'm not sure what's going on with Jessen, but I do know with him around we wouldn't need the Four Just Men at all. Because after this they all leave, every day a few more of the Red Hundred make their way out of London until none are left. And none of that matters anymore, because now, finally, one of the Four Just Men is captured by the police. It is Manfred and he is turned in by the Woman of Gratz who now realizes she loves him. If that doesn't make sense to you it didn't to me either. But he's in prison waiting to be executed, and it's up to the Three Just Men, or two, depending on how you look at it, to save him. I hope they can or we'll be down to two just men and soon the entire series will be over for lack of just men. But there is another book, and it's waiting for me to start reading, so here I go. Happy reading.
November 27, 2020
In some ways, this was better than the first book. We get to know the characters a wee bit better, especially Manfred, and the cause in this book is a more acceptable one. The cause being ending the Red Hundred, an anarchistic terrorist group. The narrator makes it clear that the Four ‘s methods and goals are not always acceptable to society.
As in the first book of the Four Men series, the style is sometimes so spare that I was confused at times as to who was doing what. Wallace seems to intentionally keep the reader a bit baffled. However, as another reviewer also stated, this is a type of story I enjoyed in my youth and I’ve found I still do somewhat enjoy them.
The story is almost two tales; the first involves the Four's attacks on the Red Hundred and the second involves the events after Manfred is captured by authorities. I find the stories and the Four Men themselves slightly fascinating although the storytelling is, as mentioned, overly spare and unclear at times. This is probably the result of the prolific Wallace writing too quickly as one of his publishers said, during the 1920s "a quarter of all books read in England were written by him."
Despite these deficiencies, I could easily read others of the series. Three stars.
As in the first book of the Four Men series, the style is sometimes so spare that I was confused at times as to who was doing what. Wallace seems to intentionally keep the reader a bit baffled. However, as another reviewer also stated, this is a type of story I enjoyed in my youth and I’ve found I still do somewhat enjoy them.
The story is almost two tales; the first involves the Four's attacks on the Red Hundred and the second involves the events after Manfred is captured by authorities. I find the stories and the Four Men themselves slightly fascinating although the storytelling is, as mentioned, overly spare and unclear at times. This is probably the result of the prolific Wallace writing too quickly as one of his publishers said, during the 1920s "a quarter of all books read in England were written by him."
Despite these deficiencies, I could easily read others of the series. Three stars.
January 18, 2018
Interesting
A fourth man was added to replace the one who died (self-inflicted electrocution during the murder of the MP in the previous story). This story gave a little more insight into their thinking.
A fourth man was added to replace the one who died (self-inflicted electrocution during the murder of the MP in the previous story). This story gave a little more insight into their thinking.
December 3, 2022
Free | As expected. The author was worried more about quantity of output than quality but still not bad, really.
March 23, 2013
2012 Review:
Whoo! It seems we’re back in business. Sure, the plot is sort of bisected but right from the first paragraph the author responded to my previous complaints. And made it all better, since this time? Their cause is easily identifiable as just. :D
Okay, so they’re up against… commies, I guess. But those are evil, murderous terrorists (they are actually called that; I did not realize the word was this old), so killing them and preventing them from blowing up choice parts of London certainly seems like a heroic and worthwhile thing to do.
Still, that part of the story showed little insight in our heroes. Again. And then it happens. The turning point. The Red Hundred disperse and the three (plus/minus one) men are about to do the same when Manfred is betrayed.
This brings us to the one thing I really had trouble understanding: What’s up with the woman in all this? She meets Manfred once, is chastised by him, and then flies into a hate/love fantasy about him until she manages to hand him over to the police, whereupon she realizes she loves him and wants to die for betraying him. … ’Scuse me, did I miss something here? Because all of that was in her head. The facts stand but the emotion? That’s pure projection, baby. I really don’t understand why Manfred allowed her to see his face in the first place. This is all too strange.
But eh, it leads up to his capture and the awesome way he deals with that. I actually, and I kid you not, felt a pressure against my eyes there. Then I caved in and checked that he does not, in fact, die at the end in the last chapter, which so charmingly is titled “The Execution”. Sorry, I had to. :P I did not want to spoil my reading by pre-emptive grief if it might not be necessary after all. I have no regrets!
What’s fascinating is that for a great part, especially again towards the end, this becomes a treatise on justice and vigilantism. I have to admit I love Manfred’s speech at his trial. It does not change a thing, but it’s a good speech. I suppose it makes him seem less arrogant to me. Even though the reverse should be the case, since he clearly admits that what they have done is as wrong in the eyes of the law as it is right to him personally.
Gotta love a strong character, even like that.
Also: All three (four?) of them are unflappable. That’s something I used to admire in a hero or heroine to the point of reverence; I wanted to be like that. The three/four? Yep, unflappable is exactly what they are. I still dig that.
Here’s a quote to illustrate what I mean.
And because it made me laugh, this:
Yep, during Manfred’s captivity we were treated to lots and lots of good stuff. <3 Totally made everything worth it. :D
Whoo! It seems we’re back in business. Sure, the plot is sort of bisected but right from the first paragraph the author responded to my previous complaints. And made it all better, since this time? Their cause is easily identifiable as just. :D
Okay, so they’re up against… commies, I guess. But those are evil, murderous terrorists (they are actually called that; I did not realize the word was this old), so killing them and preventing them from blowing up choice parts of London certainly seems like a heroic and worthwhile thing to do.
Still, that part of the story showed little insight in our heroes. Again. And then it happens. The turning point. The Red Hundred disperse and the three (plus/minus one) men are about to do the same when Manfred is betrayed.
This brings us to the one thing I really had trouble understanding: What’s up with the woman in all this? She meets Manfred once, is chastised by him, and then flies into a hate/love fantasy about him until she manages to hand him over to the police, whereupon she realizes she loves him and wants to die for betraying him. … ’Scuse me, did I miss something here? Because all of that was in her head. The facts stand but the emotion? That’s pure projection, baby. I really don’t understand why Manfred allowed her to see his face in the first place. This is all too strange.
But eh, it leads up to his capture and the awesome way he deals with that. I actually, and I kid you not, felt a pressure against my eyes there. Then I caved in and checked that he does not, in fact, die at the end in the last chapter, which so charmingly is titled “The Execution”. Sorry, I had to. :P I did not want to spoil my reading by pre-emptive grief if it might not be necessary after all. I have no regrets!
What’s fascinating is that for a great part, especially again towards the end, this becomes a treatise on justice and vigilantism. I have to admit I love Manfred’s speech at his trial. It does not change a thing, but it’s a good speech. I suppose it makes him seem less arrogant to me. Even though the reverse should be the case, since he clearly admits that what they have done is as wrong in the eyes of the law as it is right to him personally.
Gotta love a strong character, even like that.
Also: All three (four?) of them are unflappable. That’s something I used to admire in a hero or heroine to the point of reverence; I wanted to be like that. The three/four? Yep, unflappable is exactly what they are. I still dig that.
Here’s a quote to illustrate what I mean.
‘This is a curious beginning to our enterprise,’ said Manfred. He seemed neither pleased nor sorry. ‘I have always thought that Arabic was the safest language in the world in which to talk secrets—one learns wisdom with the years,’ he added philosophically.
And because it made me laugh, this:
‘You are almost encyclopedic,’ said Poiccart.
‘My dear Poiccart,’ said Leon resentfully, ‘you have got a trick of accepting the most wonderful information from me without paying me the due of adopting the following flattering attitudes: primary, incredulous surprise; secondary, ecstatic wonder; tertiary, admiration blended with awe.’
Poiccart laughed outright: an unusual circumstance.
Yep, during Manfred’s captivity we were treated to lots and lots of good stuff. <3 Totally made everything worth it. :D
April 17, 2016
English review follows below.
Fortsetzung von “The Four Just Men”, die das Vigilante-Thema umdeutet und das Heldenquartett diesmal zwar immer noch außerhalb von Recht und Gesetz, aber eindeutig positive verortet. Die „Four Just Men“ bringen eine Bande von kommunistischen Terroristen (dankbare Gegner!) namens „The Red 100“, angeführt von der ‚Frau aus Graz‘ zu Fall, durchaus auch wieder mit einer Reihe gezielter Anschläge und Morde gegen diese Bande.
In der zweiten Hälfte des Romans dominiert ein großer angekündigter Coup, wie schon im ersten Band: Manfred, einer der Vier, wird verhaftet und in ein Hochsicherheitsgefängnis geworfen, die „Four Just Men“ kündigen seine Befreiung an, die gegen alle Wahrscheinlichkeiten (Stichwort: Tunnel mit schwerer Tür direkt unter dem Schacht des Galgens!) auch gelingt.
Unglaubwürdiger, leicht wirrer, zu kurz geratener Abenteuerthriller von großer Rasanz und Spannung. Ein ungemein fesselnder und vergnüglicher Roman.
---
Direct sequel to “The Four Just Men” which softens the vigilante aspects – the four heros are clearly the good guys this time around, even though they still operate outside the law. This time, the „Four Just Men“ bring down a group of communist terrorists called „The Red 100“, lead by „The Woman of Graz“. Off course, the Four still do not resort to sweet-talking, but bring down the terrorists with a series of decisive strikes and assassinations.
The second half is dominated by a big coup, like in the first novel: Manfred, one of the Four, is arrested and detained in a high security prison, the „Four Just Men“ announce his liberation and act according to plan against all odds (hint: a secret tunnel directly below the gallows, protected by a sturdy door!), the plan succeeds off course.
Unbelievable, slightly confusing adventure thriller, too short for its own good, but very fast-paced and thrilling. A very suspenseful novel, and simply great fun to read.
Fortsetzung von “The Four Just Men”, die das Vigilante-Thema umdeutet und das Heldenquartett diesmal zwar immer noch außerhalb von Recht und Gesetz, aber eindeutig positive verortet. Die „Four Just Men“ bringen eine Bande von kommunistischen Terroristen (dankbare Gegner!) namens „The Red 100“, angeführt von der ‚Frau aus Graz‘ zu Fall, durchaus auch wieder mit einer Reihe gezielter Anschläge und Morde gegen diese Bande.
In der zweiten Hälfte des Romans dominiert ein großer angekündigter Coup, wie schon im ersten Band: Manfred, einer der Vier, wird verhaftet und in ein Hochsicherheitsgefängnis geworfen, die „Four Just Men“ kündigen seine Befreiung an, die gegen alle Wahrscheinlichkeiten (Stichwort: Tunnel mit schwerer Tür direkt unter dem Schacht des Galgens!) auch gelingt.
Unglaubwürdiger, leicht wirrer, zu kurz geratener Abenteuerthriller von großer Rasanz und Spannung. Ein ungemein fesselnder und vergnüglicher Roman.
---
Direct sequel to “The Four Just Men” which softens the vigilante aspects – the four heros are clearly the good guys this time around, even though they still operate outside the law. This time, the „Four Just Men“ bring down a group of communist terrorists called „The Red 100“, lead by „The Woman of Graz“. Off course, the Four still do not resort to sweet-talking, but bring down the terrorists with a series of decisive strikes and assassinations.
The second half is dominated by a big coup, like in the first novel: Manfred, one of the Four, is arrested and detained in a high security prison, the „Four Just Men“ announce his liberation and act according to plan against all odds (hint: a secret tunnel directly below the gallows, protected by a sturdy door!), the plan succeeds off course.
Unbelievable, slightly confusing adventure thriller, too short for its own good, but very fast-paced and thrilling. A very suspenseful novel, and simply great fun to read.
April 7, 2019
This is a 1908 book and is the second book in the Four Just Men series. It is more a thriller than a mystery. It is about a group of vigilante who helps the government and police administering justice when the law has failed. The book can be divided into two parts. The first part is about how the Four Just Men battle with the Congress of the Red Hundred (a group of anarchists) who intend to cause havoc in London. A new member also joined the Four Just Men to replace one member who was killed in the last book. The second part of the book deals with how one of the Four Just Men (George Manfred) got arrested by the police and how the Four Just Men launched a daring prison break and successfully saved him.
The edition I read came with a good introduction by Otto Penzer on the history of Edgar Wallace and the Four Just Men series. He also provided a lot of information outlining the major works of Edgar Wallace. I did not realize Wallace was such a prolific writer (with 173 books to his credit) and was called by some the "King of Thrillers" in 1920s and 1930s with his huge and popular output.
This is the first book I read in this series. With the frequent references made to the "Four Just Men" book, which is the first in the series, I regret not reading the first in series as my starting point.
The edition I read came with a good introduction by Otto Penzer on the history of Edgar Wallace and the Four Just Men series. He also provided a lot of information outlining the major works of Edgar Wallace. I did not realize Wallace was such a prolific writer (with 173 books to his credit) and was called by some the "King of Thrillers" in 1920s and 1930s with his huge and popular output.
This is the first book I read in this series. With the frequent references made to the "Four Just Men" book, which is the first in the series, I regret not reading the first in series as my starting point.
February 1, 2013
The second of the Wallace's Four Just Men books. Lacking the originality of the first, the spare style, although nowhere near as spare as in the original, can be rather tiresome, lacking emotion, but the finale from the imprisonment on is pure Wallace.
November 20, 2013
Really daft "Boys Own" comic book stuff. Thoroughly enjoyable escapist nonsense. The sort of thing I liked when I was twelve.
Three and a half stars would have been fairer: it's not quite four star but I really enjoyed it.
Three and a half stars would have been fairer: it's not quite four star but I really enjoyed it.
December 9, 2015
A good read. Once again I wish we had 1/2 stars. This is worth 3 1/2.
November 30, 2021
Nici dumneavoastră, nici eu nu avem căderea să-l judecăm pe Manfred şi acţiunile sale. Spun Manfred, deşi la fel de bine aş fi putut spune Gonsalez, sau în fond chiar Poiccart însuşi, întrucât ei sunt în egală măsură vinovaţi sau măreţi, în funcţie de lumina în care le priveşti faptele. Cei mai anarhici dintre noi ar ezita să-i apere, dar cel mai mare umanitar cu greu i-ar putea condamna.
Din punctul nostru de vedere, al celor ce respectă legea, văzându-ne de treaba noastră conform codului moral, şi indiscutabil ţinând stânga sau dreapta, după cum ne dictează poliţia, metodele lor erau cumplite, nejustificate, revoltătoare.
Asta nu afectează prea mult afirmaţia că, în dorinţa unui cuvânt mai potrivit, îi numim criminali. Aceasta ar fi denumirea unanim acceptată, dar eu cred ― de fapt, ştiu ― că puţin le păsa de opiniile rasei umane. Am mari îndoieli că s-ar fi aşteptat ca posteritatea să-i încarce cu onoruri.
Acţiunea lor îndreptată spre cabinetul ministerial era crimă, pur şi simplu. Totuşi, având în vedere marile probleme umane implicate, cine ar putea-o descrie ca fiind periculoasă?
Cinstit vorbind, aş spune despre cei trei care l-au ucis pe Sir Philip Ramon, şi care au măcelărit nemilos în numele Dreptăţii, că se bucură de înţelegerea mea. Sunt crime pentru care nu există o pedeapsă pe măsură, şi insulte pe care maşinăria legii scrise nu le poate şterge. Aici se află justificarea celor Patru Justiţiari ― Consiliul Dreptăţii, aşa cum se autointitulează în prezent, un consiliu de mari minţi luminate, imperturbabil.
Şi, la puţin timp după moartea lui Sir Philip şi în vreme ce Anglia încă mai comenta evenimentul, au jucat un act sau o serie de acte care au câştigat un fel de încuviinţare oficială nu numai din partea guvernului Marii Britanii, ci şi a guvernelor Europei, şi Falmouth şi-a văzut dorinţa împlinită. Pentru că aşa purtau ei războiul împotriva criminalilor-din-lumea-bună ― le subminau puterea, şiretenia, şi minţile lor minunate împotriva celei mai puternice organizaţii a lumii interlope ― împotriva foştilor maeştri ai artelor ticăloşiei, şi a inteligenţelor la fel de agile.
A fost ziua triumfului Sutei Roşii. Minunatul congres inter-naţional se reunea la Londra, primul mare congres al Anarhismului recunoscut. Nu era o adunare clandestină a unor bărbaţi în grabă vorbind pe la colţuri, ci una la vedere şi curajoasă, cu trei poliţişti special la datorie în afara ��ncăperii, un portar care să verifice biletele în holul exterior, şi un stenograf cunoscător de franceză şi idiş, care să noteze remarcabilele declaraţii.
Minunatul congres era o realitate. Când fusese pus pe tapet, au fost indivizi care au râs la auzul ideii; Nilov din Vitebsk era unul dintre ei, pentru că nu credea posibilă o asemenea deschidere. Dar micuţul Peter (numele lui ridicol era Konoplanikova, reporter al colectivului redacţional al prostescului „Russkoye Znamza”), acest Peter care imaginase întreaga poveste, a cărui idee era să organizeze o conferinţă a Sutei Roşii în Londra, care închiriase sala şi emisese biletele (purtând în colţul din stânga sus triunghiul răsturnat al Sutei), cerându-le ruşilor din Londra interesaţi de construirea unui Cămin al Marinarilor Ruşi să solicite bilete, şi care, în acelaşi timp, asigurau securitatea unei încăperi unde era imposibil de pătruns, era fericit ― mda, frăţiorilor, era o zi măreaţă pentru Peter.
Din punctul nostru de vedere, al celor ce respectă legea, văzându-ne de treaba noastră conform codului moral, şi indiscutabil ţinând stânga sau dreapta, după cum ne dictează poliţia, metodele lor erau cumplite, nejustificate, revoltătoare.
Asta nu afectează prea mult afirmaţia că, în dorinţa unui cuvânt mai potrivit, îi numim criminali. Aceasta ar fi denumirea unanim acceptată, dar eu cred ― de fapt, ştiu ― că puţin le păsa de opiniile rasei umane. Am mari îndoieli că s-ar fi aşteptat ca posteritatea să-i încarce cu onoruri.
Acţiunea lor îndreptată spre cabinetul ministerial era crimă, pur şi simplu. Totuşi, având în vedere marile probleme umane implicate, cine ar putea-o descrie ca fiind periculoasă?
Cinstit vorbind, aş spune despre cei trei care l-au ucis pe Sir Philip Ramon, şi care au măcelărit nemilos în numele Dreptăţii, că se bucură de înţelegerea mea. Sunt crime pentru care nu există o pedeapsă pe măsură, şi insulte pe care maşinăria legii scrise nu le poate şterge. Aici se află justificarea celor Patru Justiţiari ― Consiliul Dreptăţii, aşa cum se autointitulează în prezent, un consiliu de mari minţi luminate, imperturbabil.
Şi, la puţin timp după moartea lui Sir Philip şi în vreme ce Anglia încă mai comenta evenimentul, au jucat un act sau o serie de acte care au câştigat un fel de încuviinţare oficială nu numai din partea guvernului Marii Britanii, ci şi a guvernelor Europei, şi Falmouth şi-a văzut dorinţa împlinită. Pentru că aşa purtau ei războiul împotriva criminalilor-din-lumea-bună ― le subminau puterea, şiretenia, şi minţile lor minunate împotriva celei mai puternice organizaţii a lumii interlope ― împotriva foştilor maeştri ai artelor ticăloşiei, şi a inteligenţelor la fel de agile.
A fost ziua triumfului Sutei Roşii. Minunatul congres inter-naţional se reunea la Londra, primul mare congres al Anarhismului recunoscut. Nu era o adunare clandestină a unor bărbaţi în grabă vorbind pe la colţuri, ci una la vedere şi curajoasă, cu trei poliţişti special la datorie în afara ��ncăperii, un portar care să verifice biletele în holul exterior, şi un stenograf cunoscător de franceză şi idiş, care să noteze remarcabilele declaraţii.
Minunatul congres era o realitate. Când fusese pus pe tapet, au fost indivizi care au râs la auzul ideii; Nilov din Vitebsk era unul dintre ei, pentru că nu credea posibilă o asemenea deschidere. Dar micuţul Peter (numele lui ridicol era Konoplanikova, reporter al colectivului redacţional al prostescului „Russkoye Znamza”), acest Peter care imaginase întreaga poveste, a cărui idee era să organizeze o conferinţă a Sutei Roşii în Londra, care închiriase sala şi emisese biletele (purtând în colţul din stânga sus triunghiul răsturnat al Sutei), cerându-le ruşilor din Londra interesaţi de construirea unui Cămin al Marinarilor Ruşi să solicite bilete, şi care, în acelaşi timp, asigurau securitatea unei încăperi unde era imposibil de pătruns, era fericit ― mda, frăţiorilor, era o zi măreaţă pentru Peter.
February 23, 2024
This is the sequel to Wallace's debut novel, The Four Just Men, starring three of the original quartet (Manfred, Gonsalez and Poiccart) who recruit a fourth whose alias is Courtlander. The FJM are vigilantes dedicated to murdering those who are getting away with criminal activities (a bit like the eponymous hero of the Saint books by Leslie Charteris). In this novel they are up against the Red Hundred, an anarchist group. Various adventures ensue while Scotland Yard looks on helplessly. Finally, justice having been meted out and a proposed assassination averted, Manfred is captured while meeting his arch-rival and potential love interest The Woman of Gratz. He is tried for murder and convicted. Can he escape the hangman's noose?
It is a naive thriller relying on expert chemists creating swift-acting poisons and wonderful explosives, me who are masters of disguise, fluent in many languages, rich and well-supplied with information from a huge range of naturally impeccable sources. Modern readers are usually too sophisticated to suspend their disbelief so easily. But it does give wonderful insights into London in the year before the First World Wars, a place well used to terrorist 'outrages' (through bombs being dropped from Zeppelins were a little premature), a country where anarchists held their conferences and everyone had access to a revolver.
Told in mostly simple language, in short chapters, with a very direct style in which 'tell' is often privileged over 'show', this is very easy to read. With the exception, perhaps, of the Woman of Gratz, the characters are one-dimensional and clearly divided into goodies and baddies, despite the moral ambiguity of making vigilante outlaws the heroes. (But on the other hand, what else is the classic English folk hero Robin Hood?) There is an even-handedness in making both heroes and villains exotic foreigners which was rarely emulated in contemporary and subsequent alternatives, such as Sexton Blake and James Bond where the English goody commonly battles baddies from abroad. The fundamental motivation for continuing to read is not to find out whether the heroes will eventually triumph but to solve the convoluted puzzle of how they will achieve their aims. The focus is therefore on why a huge hole has appeared in the building in which two bodies are found, why a strange house has been constructed in the Spanish countryside, and how Manfred will effect his escape?
It is a naive thriller relying on expert chemists creating swift-acting poisons and wonderful explosives, me who are masters of disguise, fluent in many languages, rich and well-supplied with information from a huge range of naturally impeccable sources. Modern readers are usually too sophisticated to suspend their disbelief so easily. But it does give wonderful insights into London in the year before the First World Wars, a place well used to terrorist 'outrages' (through bombs being dropped from Zeppelins were a little premature), a country where anarchists held their conferences and everyone had access to a revolver.
Told in mostly simple language, in short chapters, with a very direct style in which 'tell' is often privileged over 'show', this is very easy to read. With the exception, perhaps, of the Woman of Gratz, the characters are one-dimensional and clearly divided into goodies and baddies, despite the moral ambiguity of making vigilante outlaws the heroes. (But on the other hand, what else is the classic English folk hero Robin Hood?) There is an even-handedness in making both heroes and villains exotic foreigners which was rarely emulated in contemporary and subsequent alternatives, such as Sexton Blake and James Bond where the English goody commonly battles baddies from abroad. The fundamental motivation for continuing to read is not to find out whether the heroes will eventually triumph but to solve the convoluted puzzle of how they will achieve their aims. The focus is therefore on why a huge hole has appeared in the building in which two bodies are found, why a strange house has been constructed in the Spanish countryside, and how Manfred will effect his escape?
August 15, 2022
The Council Of Justice (Just Men #2) (1908) by Edgar Wallace. This book begins just after the first novel in the series, The Four Just Men, ends. Now the three work against a villainy that is sweeping across London, the Red 100. This is a terrorist group headed by “The woman From Graz”, who appears to be the only female member of the 100. But due to her oratory skills and methodical thinking, she becomes their erstwhile leader. As beautiful as she is powerful, it is only natural that she and a member of the Just Men should fall in love. But when that man is captured, it is up to the other two Just Men to get his release.
Along the way we meet the mysterious Mr. Long, or is it Mr. Jessen, who is feared and respected by both sides of the fray. He plays a rather major roll in the outcome of the story, but not exactly in the manner you might expect.
This is a fitting follow up to the original novel. The Four Just Men’s opposition is a more palatable that that found in the first book. And it harkens the reader to pursue more the the Four Just Men books. There were only six books written in all so it should not be difficult to complete the series, But do remember, these novels are over 100 years old, so good luck.
Along the way we meet the mysterious Mr. Long, or is it Mr. Jessen, who is feared and respected by both sides of the fray. He plays a rather major roll in the outcome of the story, but not exactly in the manner you might expect.
This is a fitting follow up to the original novel. The Four Just Men’s opposition is a more palatable that that found in the first book. And it harkens the reader to pursue more the the Four Just Men books. There were only six books written in all so it should not be difficult to complete the series, But do remember, these novels are over 100 years old, so good luck.
July 29, 2020
Este livro foi encontrado na rua. Trata-se de uma sequela de um outro livro que não li, e não tinha noção que fosse tão antigo.
Então é assim: um grupo de "homens justos" comete assassinatos para vingar pessoas que não pensam pelo sentido de justiça que eles. Isto é, pessoas que são corruptas e más mas que estão aparte da lei geral. No entanto, quem são estes "homens justos" para pensarem que são mais "justos" que os outros.
Irritou-me desde logo que o primeiro conjunto de vítimas fossem os anarquistas, que estavam simplesmente a fazer uma reunião pacífica. A partir daí, não me consegui convencer a gostar nem um pouco dos "homens justos", porque me pareceram "injustos". Depois há uma séria de reviravoltas, cada uma mais improvável que a outra, sobretudo o final, que aparece quase como um deus ex-machina muito esquisito.
É um policial, mistério e thriller, de 1908, mas não gostei dele.
Então é assim: um grupo de "homens justos" comete assassinatos para vingar pessoas que não pensam pelo sentido de justiça que eles. Isto é, pessoas que são corruptas e más mas que estão aparte da lei geral. No entanto, quem são estes "homens justos" para pensarem que são mais "justos" que os outros.
Irritou-me desde logo que o primeiro conjunto de vítimas fossem os anarquistas, que estavam simplesmente a fazer uma reunião pacífica. A partir daí, não me consegui convencer a gostar nem um pouco dos "homens justos", porque me pareceram "injustos". Depois há uma séria de reviravoltas, cada uma mais improvável que a outra, sobretudo o final, que aparece quase como um deus ex-machina muito esquisito.
É um policial, mistério e thriller, de 1908, mas não gostei dele.
October 24, 2020
This was a follow-up story to For Just Men. I've started this book quite a few times but never seemed to finish getting it read. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the series and have read it a few times. I finally sat up each evening for a half hour at bedtime to finally finish reading about the The Council of Justice.
What I discovered was that this turned out to be a great follow-up to the classic Four Just Men. The adventure, action, mystery, and suspense continue but with a twist. There is a formidable group of vigilantes that give the remaining four just men a run for their money. These folks are an international collection of anarchists seeking power, fear, money who make life and death decisions to gain what they want.
There are heroes, villains, treachery, betrayal, subterfuge and the love of an ice princess up for grabs. This book seemed more complex and convoluted but enjoyable nonetheless.
What I discovered was that this turned out to be a great follow-up to the classic Four Just Men. The adventure, action, mystery, and suspense continue but with a twist. There is a formidable group of vigilantes that give the remaining four just men a run for their money. These folks are an international collection of anarchists seeking power, fear, money who make life and death decisions to gain what they want.
There are heroes, villains, treachery, betrayal, subterfuge and the love of an ice princess up for grabs. This book seemed more complex and convoluted but enjoyable nonetheless.
July 23, 2024
It's rather unusual for me to rapidly read two consecutive books by the same author. But I was so fond of the exhilarating rhythm of The Four Just Men that I just had to continue with its sequel. Besides, these are 1-2 day reads at most, so the time investment is minimal.
This one is definitely "more of the same" but the formula is not staling yet. There's less of a focus on the bewildered cop Falmouth this time, but still a lot of fun. Compared to the first novel, this one has less of a "could have been written this year" feel, but only because it's considerably more steeped in early 20th century politics. Pace-wise and twists-wise, it delivered as well as its older sibling.
This one is definitely "more of the same" but the formula is not staling yet. There's less of a focus on the bewildered cop Falmouth this time, but still a lot of fun. Compared to the first novel, this one has less of a "could have been written this year" feel, but only because it's considerably more steeped in early 20th century politics. Pace-wise and twists-wise, it delivered as well as its older sibling.
November 3, 2023
An intriguing premise that quickly wallows in its own plot, The Council of Justice is the sequel to The Four Just Men, returning once more to London where the vigilantes take on a group of anarchists called the Red Hundred. One member of the four gets a bit more screentime than the others, but by and large they are fairly indistinguishable from each other and struggle to carry the story. We do see the return of the inspector from the first book, who is oddly more memorable than the main characters.
February 28, 2024
The most enjoyable feature of reading books written 100 to 300 years ago is the absence of wokeness and authors writing to satisfy expectations of including whatever are current social conventions.
This book picked up the story of The Just Four Men five years later. It does not have the same level of obsession and is much more confusing. The author relies too much on the tricky pseudonyms for several of the characters. It was easy to predict what was coming next. The story's conclusion was still satisfactory. We will continue with this series.
This book picked up the story of The Just Four Men five years later. It does not have the same level of obsession and is much more confusing. The author relies too much on the tricky pseudonyms for several of the characters. It was easy to predict what was coming next. The story's conclusion was still satisfactory. We will continue with this series.
October 8, 2021
Wonderful listening 🎧
Another will written British mystery by Edgar Wallace with murder and intrigue in Great Britain as the government is up set by the Four. I recommend this series by a wonderful British author. Enjoy the adventure of reading or listening to books 2021 📘😎🎉👍
Another will written British mystery by Edgar Wallace with murder and intrigue in Great Britain as the government is up set by the Four. I recommend this series by a wonderful British author. Enjoy the adventure of reading or listening to books 2021 📘😎🎉👍
April 9, 2023
Unread shelf project 2023: book 46.
I love the Four Just Men and how Wallace writes with such dry wit! These are NOT fast reading books but they are very entertaining as long as I can focus well enough to “digest” the content!
I love the Four Just Men and how Wallace writes with such dry wit! These are NOT fast reading books but they are very entertaining as long as I can focus well enough to “digest” the content!
July 4, 2022
Edgar Wallace er strålende på sitt beste, men er veldig skuffet over denne.
March 2, 2024
ترجمة هنداوي غاية في الروعة بخلاف ترجمة دار الراوي المريضة
June 25, 2024
Keeping in mind that certain modern conveniences were very new when this was written and not well understood — write off those inaccuracies, and this is a cracking fun story.
August 27, 2022
Seconda avventura di Poiccart, Manfred e Gonsalez, in cui stavolta dovranno riuscire a battere in astuzia gli anarchici dei Cento Rossi. Come al solito ci ritroveremo un passo indietro rispetto ai protagonisti, arrancando per riuscire a stargli dietro come accade alla polizia e a Scotland Yard.
Il piano stavolta è molto più intricato e colmo di pericoli: l’associazione che devono fermare ha diversi componenti e per riuscire a prenderli tutti dovranno escogitare diversi strattagemmi. I nostri protagonisti però si rivelano sempre pronti a trovare una soluzione assurda ma efficace per ogni problema. A posteriori non si può fare altro che ammirare la loro perizia nel pianificare. Hanno anche la giusta dose di sangue freddo, che permette loro di rimanere fermi nel loro intento anche quando tutto sembra perduto.
Gli anarchici che vogliono fermare non brillano certo di intelligenza. Non che la polizia sia diversa, però almeno loro non sottovalutano i Quattro Giusti. Tra tutti i personaggi secondari spicca la Donna di Gantz, descritta per la sua bellezza e per le capacità oratorie. Devo dire che mi ha convito poco come figura, in quanto troppo osannata dai suoi compagni anarchici senza un reale motivo. Anche il trattamento che le riservano i protagonisti non è generato da un comportamento della donna, ma sembra sia basato solo sulle impressioni che suscita.
E’ descritto molto meglio il personaggio che assumerà il ruolo del quarto giusto. Stavolta ci troviamo di fronte a qualcuno che potremmo considerare alla pari dei protagonisti come intelletto e capacità. E devo dire che mi piacerebbe rivederlo anche nei prossimi romanzi.
La parte finale del libro è quella più rocambolesca: Manfred viene arrestato, come indicato nella trama. Da un lato siamo preoccupati che possa essere la sua fine, dall’altro invece siamo sicuri che i suoi compagni non lo abbandoneranno. In fondo non sarà certo il muro di una prigione a impedire a questi uomini di compiere un’impresa rocambolesca degna di Arsenio Lupin.
Recensione pubblicata su Cronache di Betelgeuse
Il piano stavolta è molto più intricato e colmo di pericoli: l’associazione che devono fermare ha diversi componenti e per riuscire a prenderli tutti dovranno escogitare diversi strattagemmi. I nostri protagonisti però si rivelano sempre pronti a trovare una soluzione assurda ma efficace per ogni problema. A posteriori non si può fare altro che ammirare la loro perizia nel pianificare. Hanno anche la giusta dose di sangue freddo, che permette loro di rimanere fermi nel loro intento anche quando tutto sembra perduto.
Gli anarchici che vogliono fermare non brillano certo di intelligenza. Non che la polizia sia diversa, però almeno loro non sottovalutano i Quattro Giusti. Tra tutti i personaggi secondari spicca la Donna di Gantz, descritta per la sua bellezza e per le capacità oratorie. Devo dire che mi ha convito poco come figura, in quanto troppo osannata dai suoi compagni anarchici senza un reale motivo. Anche il trattamento che le riservano i protagonisti non è generato da un comportamento della donna, ma sembra sia basato solo sulle impressioni che suscita.
E’ descritto molto meglio il personaggio che assumerà il ruolo del quarto giusto. Stavolta ci troviamo di fronte a qualcuno che potremmo considerare alla pari dei protagonisti come intelletto e capacità. E devo dire che mi piacerebbe rivederlo anche nei prossimi romanzi.
La parte finale del libro è quella più rocambolesca: Manfred viene arrestato, come indicato nella trama. Da un lato siamo preoccupati che possa essere la sua fine, dall’altro invece siamo sicuri che i suoi compagni non lo abbandoneranno. In fondo non sarà certo il muro di una prigione a impedire a questi uomini di compiere un’impresa rocambolesca degna di Arsenio Lupin.
Recensione pubblicata su Cronache di Betelgeuse
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May 15, 2012I've decided that I don't like the Just men.
March 4, 2016
Hard to get started, then got interesting.
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