C. Edgar Bolen is an author about whom little public information is available. Only one work by him is currently held in the collection, Lycanthropus. Since his dates of birth and death, nationality, and specific life experiences cannot be reliably verified, almost no dependable record of his biography exists, and his writing can only be approached through this surviving work. The title Lycanthropus points to the theme of werewolves or human-to-wolf transformation, suggesting an interest in Gothic horror and supernatural legend; such works typically draw readers through atmosphere, suspense, and an exploration of the darker side of human nature. Although the scale of Bolen's output and his overall influence remain uncertain, this work still offers readers and researchers of early werewolf fiction a text worth examining.
