Georges Surdez
Swiss writer (1900-1949)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Biography
Surdez was born in Bienne, Switzerland, of French descent. Surdez's family emigrated to America when Surdez was aged thirteen; he went to school in New York.[4] Surdez spent several years living in the French colonies in North Africa and Central Africa.[4] In 1920 Surdez returned to the United States and remained in the country for most of his life.[4]
Writing career
Surdez specialised in writing fiction about the French Foreign Legion. Surdez researched the Foreign Legion in detail, and once visited the organization's training camp at Sidi Bel Abbès, Algeria to gather information about the Legion.[5] He was a regular contributor to Adventure, with over 100 stories appearing.[2][6][7][8] Surdez's work also appeared in other magazines, including Argosy, Blue Book, Short Stories and Collier's.[2][9][10]
Adaptions
His short story A Game in the Bush was filmed as South Sea Love in 1927.[3] His novel "The Demon Caravan" was filmed as Desert Legion starring Alan Ladd.[1] He also created Russian roulette
Personal life
Critical reception
Writer Lee Server wrote "The Swiss-born Surdez was at once the most elegant prose stylist and the most realistic of all the pulpsters and novelists of the early 20th century who specialized in tales of the French Foreign Legion."[2] Pulp magazine historian Tim Cottrill stated that Surdez is "considered one of the best writers among early pulpsters".[11]
