Monsieur Zenith
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Monsieur Zenith the Albino is an ambiguous villain created by writer Anthony Skene for the Sexton Blake series of detective pulp fiction.
Zenith is a world-weary albino master thief, originally Romanian royalty but in exile for undetermined reasons. He is fully of an ennui which can only be relieved by opium, danger and adventure. Zenith sets himself against Blake not out of avarice but for the joy of the game, and treats Blake with sportsmanship rather than anger or hatred.
Zenith is influenced as much by the anti-heroes of Gothic fiction as he is by the master villains of 20th century pulp fiction, notably Fantômas. Zenith remains one of Blake's most popular adversaries.
Monsieur Zenith was an important influence in the creation of one of the best-known characters in fantasy literature, Elric of Melniboné.
[edit] External links
- Moorcock's Miscellany (formerly Tanelorn, Multiverse.org & Moorcock's Weekly Miscellany)
- Jess Nevins' Zenith the Albino Page
