Octavus Roy Cohen
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Brief Biography
Octavus Roy Cohen was born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina. He began his career as an engineer after graduating from Clemson Agricultural College. However, he soon transitioned to journalism and then briefly practiced law before dedicating himself to writing full-time. Cohen's literary contributions encompassed a wide range, including short stories published in national magazines, novels, and plays performed on Broadway. He spent many years in Birmingham, Alabama, and wrote 250 short stories about African American life based on his observations. Even at the time they were published, these stories drew criticism for their racial bias. Cohen also ventured into writing motion picture scripts and radio dramas, and his work found success on television adaptations in the 1950s. He died of a stroke in 1959.
Publications
The Other Woman. New York; Macaulay, 1917.
Six Seconds of Darkness. New York; Grossett & Dunlap, 1918.
Polished Ebony. New York; Dodd, 1919.
The Crimson Alibi. New York; Dodd, 1919.
Come Seven. New York; Dodd, 1920.
Gray Dusk. New York; Dodd, 1920.
Highly Colored. New York; Dodd, 1921.
Assorted Chocolates. New York; Dodd, 1922.
Midnight. New York; Dodd, 1922.
Dark Days and Black Knights. New York; Dodd, 1923.
Jim Hanvey, Detective. New York; Dodd, 1923.
Sunclouds. New York; Dodd, 1924.
Damaged Good. Philadelphia; Saturday Evening Post, 1925.
The Iron Chalice. New York; Grossett & Dunlap, 1925.
Bigger and Blacker. Cincinnati; Little, 1926.
The Other Tomorrow. New York; D. Appleton, 1927.
The Outer Gate. Cincinnati; Little, 1927.
Detours. Cincinnati; Little, 1927.
Spring Tide. New York; Appleton, 1928.
Florian Slappey Goes Abroad. Cincinnati; Little, 1928.
The Light Shines Through. Cincinnati; Little, 1928.
The May Day Mystery. New York; D. Appleton, 1929.
The Backstage Mystery. New York; D. Appleton, 1930.
Epic Peters, Pullman Porter. New York; D. Appleton, 1930.
Lilies of the Alley. New York; D. Appleton, 1931.
Cameos. New York; D. Appleton, 1932.
Star of Earth. New York; D. Appleton, 1932.
Carbon Copies. New York; D. Appleton, 1932.
The Townsend Murder Mystery. New York; D. Appleton, 1933.
The Valley of Olympus. New York; D. Appleton, 1934.
Scarlet Woman. New York; D. Appleton, 1934.
Scrambled Yeggs. New York; D. Appleton, 1934.
With Benefit of Clergy. New York; D. Appleton, 1935.
Black to Nature. New York; D. Appleton, 1935.
Child of Evil. New York; D. Appleton, 1936.
I Love You Again. New York; D. Appleton, 1937.
East of Broadway. New York; D. Appleton, 1938.
Strange Honeymoon. New York; D. Appleton, 1939.
Romance in Crimson. New York; D. Appleton, 1940.
Kid Tinsel. New York; Appleton Century, 1941.
Lady in Armor. New York; D. Appleton, 1941.
Romance in the First Degree: A Novel. New York; Macmillan, 1943.
Sounds of Revelry. New York; Macmillan, 1943.
Danger in Paradise. New York; Macmillan, 1945.
Don't Ever Love Me, a Novel. New York; Macmillan, 1946.
Love Has No Alibi. New York; Macmillan, 1946.
Dangerous Lady, a Novel. New York; Macmillan, 1946.
My Love Wears Black, a Novel. New York; Macmillan, 1947.
More Beautiful Than Murder, a Novel. New York; Macmillan, 1948.
A Bullet for My Love, a Novel. New York; Macmillan, 1950.
The Corpse That Walked. New York; Fawcett, 1950.
Lost Lady. New York; Fawcett, 1951.
Borrasca. New York; Macmillan, 1953.
Love Can Be Dangerous, a Novel. New York; Macmillan, 1955.
Six Seconds of Darkness. New York; Grossett & Dunlap, 1918.
Polished Ebony. New York; Dodd, 1919.
The Crimson Alibi. New York; Dodd, 1919.
Come Seven. New York; Dodd, 1920.
Gray Dusk. New York; Dodd, 1920.
Highly Colored. New York; Dodd, 1921.
Assorted Chocolates. New York; Dodd, 1922.
Midnight. New York; Dodd, 1922.
Dark Days and Black Knights. New York; Dodd, 1923.
Jim Hanvey, Detective. New York; Dodd, 1923.
Sunclouds. New York; Dodd, 1924.
Damaged Good. Philadelphia; Saturday Evening Post, 1925.
The Iron Chalice. New York; Grossett & Dunlap, 1925.
Bigger and Blacker. Cincinnati; Little, 1926.
The Other Tomorrow. New York; D. Appleton, 1927.
The Outer Gate. Cincinnati; Little, 1927.
Detours. Cincinnati; Little, 1927.
Spring Tide. New York; Appleton, 1928.
Florian Slappey Goes Abroad. Cincinnati; Little, 1928.
The Light Shines Through. Cincinnati; Little, 1928.
The May Day Mystery. New York; D. Appleton, 1929.
The Backstage Mystery. New York; D. Appleton, 1930.
Epic Peters, Pullman Porter. New York; D. Appleton, 1930.
Lilies of the Alley. New York; D. Appleton, 1931.
Cameos. New York; D. Appleton, 1932.
Star of Earth. New York; D. Appleton, 1932.
Carbon Copies. New York; D. Appleton, 1932.
The Townsend Murder Mystery. New York; D. Appleton, 1933.
The Valley of Olympus. New York; D. Appleton, 1934.
Scarlet Woman. New York; D. Appleton, 1934.
Scrambled Yeggs. New York; D. Appleton, 1934.
With Benefit of Clergy. New York; D. Appleton, 1935.
Black to Nature. New York; D. Appleton, 1935.
Child of Evil. New York; D. Appleton, 1936.
I Love You Again. New York; D. Appleton, 1937.
East of Broadway. New York; D. Appleton, 1938.
Strange Honeymoon. New York; D. Appleton, 1939.
Romance in Crimson. New York; D. Appleton, 1940.
Kid Tinsel. New York; Appleton Century, 1941.
Lady in Armor. New York; D. Appleton, 1941.
Romance in the First Degree: A Novel. New York; Macmillan, 1943.
Sounds of Revelry. New York; Macmillan, 1943.
Danger in Paradise. New York; Macmillan, 1945.
Don't Ever Love Me, a Novel. New York; Macmillan, 1946.
Love Has No Alibi. New York; Macmillan, 1946.
Dangerous Lady, a Novel. New York; Macmillan, 1946.
My Love Wears Black, a Novel. New York; Macmillan, 1947.
More Beautiful Than Murder, a Novel. New York; Macmillan, 1948.
A Bullet for My Love, a Novel. New York; Macmillan, 1950.
The Corpse That Walked. New York; Fawcett, 1950.
Lost Lady. New York; Fawcett, 1951.
Borrasca. New York; Macmillan, 1953.
Love Can Be Dangerous, a Novel. New York; Macmillan, 1955.
Themes
Octavus Roy Cohen wrote short stories, novels, plays, and film scripts. He wrote many stories about African Americans using dialect and humor, but they drew criticism for containing stereotypes and racial bias. He was best known for his detective stories.
Publisher
Alabama Authors of the 19th and 20th Centuries, edited by Beverley Park Rilett, http://AlabamaAuthors.org
Collection
Citation
Cohen, Octavus Roy, “Octavus Roy Cohen,” Alabama Authors of the 19th & 20th Centuries, accessed September 19, 2024, https://alabamaauthors.org/items/show/561.