Other editions of book The Beetle: A Mystery

"The Beetle: A Mystery" by Richard Marsh. Published by Good Press. Good Press publishes a wide range of titles that encompasses every genre. From well-known classics & literary fiction and non-fiction to forgotten−or yet undiscovered gems−of world literature, we issue the books that need to be read. Each Good Press edition has been meticulously edited and formatted to boost readability for all e-readers and devices. Our goal is to produce eBooks that are user-friendly and accessible to everyone in a high-quality digital format.

"The Beetle: A Mystery" by Richard Marsh. Published by Good Press. Good Press publishes a wide range of titles that encompasses every genre. From well-known classics & literary fiction and non-fiction to forgotten−or yet undiscovered gems−of world literature, we issue the books that need to be read. Each Good Press edition has been meticulously edited and formatted to boost readability for all e-readers and devices. Our goal is to produce eBooks that are user-friendly and accessible to everyone in a high-quality digital format.

An ancient Egyptian evil known as 'The Beetle' has arrived in London to wreak a mysterious vengeance on politician Paul Lessingham. When this strange creature, 'born neither of God nor man', orchestrates the disappearance of Lessingham's fiancée Marjorie, it becomes a race against time to solve the mystery of the Beetle and save Marjorie from an unthinkable fate! Told alternately from the points of view of Robert Holt, a clerk who is hypnotized into becoming a mindless slave, Marjorie, a beautiful and independent New Woman, Sydney Atherton, a cynical inventor of murderous weapons of war, and the clever detective Augustus Champnell, The Beetle is a thrilling mystery that will keep readers guessing until its startling climax. This new edition is certain to become the definitive edition of Marsh's most successful novel. It features the unabridged text of the 1897 first edition, including a reproduction of its cover and all four illustrations by John Williamson. Minna Vuohelainen's introduction corrects the errors of previous scholars and places the novel in the context of fin de siècle fiction and growing uneasiness over urban conditions, imperialism, and gender roles. Also featured in this edition are substantial selections of fictional and nonfictional contextual material, including excerpts from Marsh's other works and unpublished manuscripts, as well as detailed notes for modern readers.

• This edition binds together two classic novels from horror writer Richard Marsh: The Beetle: A Mystery & A Master of DeceptionThe Beetle: A Mystery (1897). A mysterious oriental person pursues a British politician to London, where he wreaks havoc with his powers of hypnosis and shape-shifting, in search of vengeance for the defilement of a sacred tomb in Egypt.Marsh's novel was published in the same period as Bram Stoker's Dracula and like many sensational novels of the time The Beetle is narrated from the perspectives of multiple characters.The novel uses numerous themes of the late 19th century, including unemployment and urban destitution, radical politics, homosexuality, science, and Britain's imperial engagements (in particular those in Egypt and the Sudan). A Master of Deception (1915)Mr. Elmore's uncle, much like his father, has committed suicide and he would like answers where none are to be found. The novel is part mystery, part romance, packed in a tightly written and witty style. "Perhaps," said Mr. Wilkes, replying to his unspoken question, "you had better go. You will commit yourself to nothing by going.""Whereas," observed Elmore, with his smiling glance fixed on the managing man, "you will commit yourself to a good deal by not going, because I shall not only put you out of this door, but into the street. So far as this office is concerned, that will be the end of you. I will take steps which will ensure your never entering it again."After another brief moment of hesitation, with a glance of what was very like reproach towards the lawyer, Andrews quitted the room, with the air of one who was both bewildered and hurt.

Classic horror in the form of a supernatural thriller: London is haunted by mysterious cases of death, stalkings and burglary. A prominent member of parliament seems to be the focus of the incidents. Behind the events is a hostile and powerful entity called "the Arab," which takes the shape of a man or a sexually seductive woman depending on circumstances and intentions. It is a thing born of neither God nor human, but connected with the Egyptian cult of Isis.The Englishman Richard Marsh (pseudonym for Richard Bernard Heldmann, 1857-1915) was a major best-selling author during the late Victorian era, though now largely forgotten except among scholars and connoisseurs of horror fiction. Especially The Beetle (1897) was reprinted numerous times and translated into languages all over the world, with a popularity that lasted decades into the 20th century, adapted to the screen in a British movie 1919 and several times for the stage, most notably in a big production for Strand Theatre 1928. Today the novel has been reinstated by scholars as a great Victorian classic, similar in themes and mood to Bram Stoker's Dracula which was published the same year, a prime example of fin de siècle literature.Richard Marsh was specialized in horror, suspense and the supernatural, with strong elements of crime and detective fiction; he also wrote clear-cut detective stories, for example with the character Judith Lee, an early female detective. One of his recurring characters is the Hon. Augustus Champnell, an aristocratic detective with an interest in the occult, who is also the main protagonist in this novel.

The Beetle: A Mystery By Richard Marsh The Beetle (or The Beetle: A Mystery) is an 1897 horror novel by the British writer Richard Marsh, in which a polymorphous Ancient Egyptian entity seeks revenge on a British Member of Parliament. It initially out-sold Bram Stoker's similar horror story Dracula, which appeared the same year. The story is told from four points of view, which generally flow from each other with limited scene repetition. In order, the four narrators are Robert Holt, Sydney Atherton, Marjorie Lindon, and Augustus Champnell. The story is written down as elaborate testimonies gathered by Champnell, who is a detective and who, despite only appearing during his own narration, provides the context of the antagonists' motives and the wrap-up of how the rest of the cast fared after the adventure. The events described are insinuated to be based on fact and several names used in the novel are supposedly altered to protect the identities of those involved. The year is not given, or rather left ambiguous at 18—, but everything takes place over a three day-period around June 2 on a Friday. Robert Holt, a clerk who has been looking all day for a place to work, which he hasn't had for a long time, seeks shelter and food at a workhouse in Fulham. He is, however, denied, and in the dark and rain walks on looking for another place to stay. He comes upon a road occupied by only two houses, one of which in terrible state. He finds that one to have the window open and invites himself in. This proves to be a mistake, as he comes face to face with what is later revealed to be a beetle. He is hypnotized into paralysis and the beetle takes their human form again, if covered largely by a blanket; an unsightly man with distinctly female behavior who is later referred to as the Arab. The Arab accuses Holt of being a thief and promises to treat him like one, though they make clear they have use for them. Feeding him but taking his clothes and forcing a kiss on him that appears their way of feeding themself from him, the Arab sends Holt nearly naked to the home of Paul Lessingham, a member of the House of Commons, to steal the contents of a protected drawer in his desk. If Holt is to encounter Lessingham, he is instructed to say "The Beetle", which should incapacitate him. Despite having no experience with burglary, Holt succeeds, in part because the Arab sees through his eyes and orders him onward. Before he can leave with the contents, letters tied together with a ribbon, Lessingham confronts him. In a voice not his, Holt shouts "The Beetle" twice, forcing Lessingham to shiver in a corner and allowing him to get away by jumping through the window. In the streets, he is accosted by another man, who asks if he committed a crime against Lessingham. The man is pleased by the prospect and lets Holt go, who delivers the letters to the Arab. The Arab finds they are love letters from one Marjorie Lindon and proclaims they will hurt Lessingham through her.

Richard Bernard Heldmann was born on 12th October 1857, in St Johns Wood, North London.By his early 20’s Heldmann began publishing fiction for the myriad magazine publications that had sprung up and were eager for good well-written content.In October 1882, Heldmann was promoted to co-editor of Union Jack, a popular magazine, but his association with the publication ended suddenly in June 1883. It appears Heldman was prone to issuing forged cheques to finance his lifestyle. In April 1884 He was sentenced to 18 months hard labour.In order to be well away from the scandal and damage this had caused to his reputation Heldmann adopted a pseudonym on his release from jail. Shortly thereafter the name ‘Richard Marsh’ began to appear in the literary periodicals. The use of his mother’s maiden name as part of it seems both a release and a lifeline.A stroke of very good fortune arrived with his novel The Beetle published in 1897. This would turn out to be his greatest commercial success and added some much-needed gravitas to his literary reputation.Marsh was a prolific writer and wrote almost 80 volumes of fiction as well as many short stories, across many genres from horror and crime to romance and humour.