Edgar Saltus

The Paliser case Illustrated Edgar Saltus

The Paliser Case (1919) is focused on money, deceit and murder by a once popular American writer. Tragedy and society comedy, and the blasé life style of millionaires are overlaid with the plight of a young singer pursued by a crazy rich boy. Edgar Saltus (1855-1921) was an American writer known for his elaborate prose style. His works reportedly paralleled those by European decadent authors such as Huysmans, D'Annuzio and Wilde. Saltus wrote two books of philosophy, The Philosophy of Disenchantment and The Anatomy of Negation. Saltus fell into obscurity after his death. His novel The Paliser Case was adapted to film in 1920, and his novel Daughters of the Rich was filmed in 1923.