Irving Wallace Books In Order
Book links take you to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn money from qualifying purchases.Publication Order of Standalone Novels
The Sins of Philip Fleming | (1959) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Chapman Report | (1960) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Prize | (1962) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Man | (1964) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Three Sirens | (1964) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Sunday Gentleman | (1966) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Plot | (1967) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Seven Minutes | (1969) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Second Lady | (1970) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Word | (1972) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Fan Club | (1974) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The R Document | (1976) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Almighty | (1977) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Pigeon Project | (1979) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Miracle | (1984) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Seventh Secret | (1985) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Celestial Bed | (1987) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Golden Room | (1988) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Guest of Honor | (1989) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books
The Fabulous Originals | (1955) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Square Pegs | (1957) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Fabulous Showman | (1959) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Twenty-Seventh Wife | (1961) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Writing of One Novel | (1968) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Nympho and Other Maniacs | (1971) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The People's Almanac | (1975) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Stardust to Prairie Dust | (1976) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The People's Almanac Presents the Book of Lists | (1977) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The People's Almanac #2 | (1978) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The People's Almanac Presents The Book of Lists #2 | (1978) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Two | (1978) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The People's Almanac Presents The Book of Predictions | (1980) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Intimate Sex Lives of Famous People | (1981) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Significa | (1983) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The People's Almanac Presents The Book of Lists 3 | (1984) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Known for his highly entertaining populist novels, the American novelist and screenwriter Irving Wallace successfully accumulated a number of works during his lifetime to much acclaim, as he knew his audience and precisely what they were looking for in their reading material. Whilst the critical establishment may have been a little more reticent towards his work seeing it as somewhat ‘lowbrow’, the general public were a lot more open to what he had to offer. This was something he was well aware of though, catering to his audience well creating a highly successful career in the dual industries of both film and literature.
Early and Personal Life
Born in 1916 on the 19th of March, the American author Irving Wallace was first brought up in Chicago, Illinois, to a Russian Jewish family, his mother being Bessie Liss and his father being Alexander Wallace, an American derivative of the name Wallechinsky. Named after his grandfather who was not only a book-keeper, but also a Talmudic scholar of Narewka, he later grew up in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It was during his early years that he started to develop his passion for the written word, gaining a strong interest in both reading and writing, something which he then went onto nurture throughout his education, giving him an insight into his style and tone.
Starting out by selling his stories to a number of different magazines and publications, Irving Wallace spent the duration of the Second World War working for the First Motion Picture Unit, which was a subdivision of the Army Air Force that would put out informational films pertaining to them and their operations. He also spent some time working within the Frank Capra unit, and it was during this time that he met Theodor Seuss Geise, who would later become the famous author Dr. Seuss himself. All of this allowed him to get experience on the job and find his voice as an author with a great reputation and legacy to follow.
His Hollywood career was short lived though, as he largely found it to be unsatisfying as a writer so, finishing there he soon moved on to writing books of his own, with his first book published in 1955 with The Fabulous Originals, a non-fictional work, which was later followed up in 1959 with The Sins of Philip Fleming, which marked his initial fictional book. A lot of the time he was well known for creating work of a sexual nature, with many erotic themes, which he would produce with the help of his wife Sylvia Wallace. Together they would create a number of books focusing on relationships and intimacy that sought to give others an insight into sexuality.
With many of his books being adapted for the big-screen later on, he had a long and illustrious career that lasted for many years. Having two children with his wife Sylvia Wallace, who died on the 20th of October, 2006, himself dying on the 29th of June, 1990, he left behind a strong legacy. His daughter, Amy Wallace, became a writer in her own right, whilst his son David Wallechinsky became a television historian and commentator, both somewhat following in the footsteps of their parents.
Writing Career
Contributing various scripts to television, he started out by providing such shows as ‘Have Gun, Will Travel’ with scripts. This gave him a good visual sense which he took on into his later fictional work, giving a sense of urgency that grabbed readers attention on the page. Taking this on he managed to produce a total of thirty-three books throughout his life, which were then translated into thirty-one languages.
Knowing his audience and what they wanted was his strong point, and this gave him an advantage that other writers didn’t have. Producing works that may were well regarded by the general public, but not so well received by the critical establishment, he worked on his populist appeal to great effect. Over the years he would also collaborate with his wife on a number of books as well, many sexually themed regarding relationships and intimacy, a line that also proved to be popular with readers too.
The Chapman Report
Originally published in 1960 through the Signet publishing house, this novel was based upon the findings of Dr. Alfred Kinsey. Later made into a 1962 film starring Jane Fonda and directed by George Cukor, it gained some prominence despite the film not being so well received. The book itself though is a great display of Irving Wallace’s talents as a writer, showing him developing in both style and themes.
Using the character of one Dr. Chapman who is conducting an investigation into the sex lives of various society ladies. Taking place in a community known as ‘The Briars’, a location situated in California, this sought to convey the findings of Kinsey in a semi-fictional style. Going over a series of interviews it examines their sex lives, as it really is a product of its time, heralding the oncoming sexual revolution of the sixties. Will they get to the heart of the matter? Can they make amends with their deeper more darker desires? What will become of the Chapman report?
The Celestial Bed
Initially published in 1987 through the Dell publishing house, this was to mark a return to form for Irving Wallace as an erotic storyteller. Looking at sex and intimacy once again it recaptures both the style and the tone of what came before, showcasing how Wallace has developed as a writer throughout the years. His now trademarked narrative devices and ideas are also clearly evident here, as it gives the readers what they have now come to expect from him as a writer.
Delving into the world of sex therapy, this particular book seeks to explore what truths lie within the relationships of couples. Looking at how people interact with their partners, it manages to examine various desires and hidden secrets that people keep hidden. Taking a look at the post-sexual revolution in America, it manages to find the truths as to how people have sex across America. Will it discover the truths? Can Wallace find more as an author? What lies between the sheets of the celestial bed?
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