50 Masterpieces of Murder Mystery & Detective Fiction (Vol. 2)

50 Masterpieces of Murder Mystery & Detective Fiction (Vol. 2) emerges as a pivotal collection that captures the essence and evolution of detective fiction and mystery narratives, ranging from the gothic suspense of Edgar Allan Poe to the intricate plots of Agatha Christie. This anthology represents an eclectic amalgamation of literary styles, weaving together the psychological depth of Dostoyevsky with the sharp wit of Mark Twain, set against a backdrop of societal observations from Charles Dickens to F. Scott Fitzgerald. The diversity among these tales showcases not only the range of human emotion and the complexity of the detective genre but also highlights significant pieces that have defined and expanded the boundaries of mystery literature. The inclusion of lesser-known stories alongside celebrated works invites readers to explore the breadth and depth of this literary form. The collective backgrounds of the contributing authors span continents, centuries, and a multitude of personal experiences, ideologies, and literary movements. From the romantic despair of the Brontë sisters to the existential musings of Ernest Hemingway, and the supernatural explorations of H.P. Lovecraft, this anthology transcends mere entertainment to reflect on the human condition, justice, and morality. These authors, essential figures in literature, have individually and collectively contributed to the development and recognition of detective fiction as a significant literary genre, engaging with and portraying the cultural and ethical issues of their time. '50 Masterpieces of Murder Mystery & Detective Fiction (Vol. 2)' is not just an anthology; it is an invitation to witness the evolution of the detective genre through the lenses of its most distinguished architects. Readers are encouraged to journey through the haunting moors of England, the bustling streets of Paris, and the deceptive veneer of everyday life, uncovering truths that transcend the pages of the stories. This collection offers an unparalleled opportunity to study the complexities of human nature, the art of storytelling, and the philosophical questions that arise within the contexts of crime and justice. Engaging with this volume promises not only a deeper appreciation for the genre but also a profound exploration of the societal reflections mirrored in these timeless narratives.

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1738 books
Jules Verne
Jules Verne (1828–1905) was a prolific French author whose writing about various innovations and technological advancements laid much of the foundation of modern science fiction. Verne’s love of travel and adventure, including his time spent sailing the seas, inspired several of his short stories and novels.
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Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens was born in 1812 and grew up in poverty. This experience influenced ‘Oliver Twist’, the second of his fourteen major novels, which first appeared in 1837. When he died in 1870, he was buried in Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey as an indication of his huge popularity as a novelist, which endures to this day.
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Mark Twain
Mark Twain, born Samuel Langhorne Clemens in 1835, left school at age 12. His career encompassed such varied occupations as printer, Mississippi riverboat pilot, journalist, travel writer, and publisher, which furnished him with a wide knowledge of humanity and the perfect grasp of local customs and speech manifested in his writing. It wasn't until The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885), that he was recognized by the literary establishment as one of the greatest writers America would ever produce. Toward the end of his life, plagued by personal tragedy and financial failure, Twain grew more and more cynical and pessimistic. Though his fame continued to widen--Yale and Oxford awarded him honorary degrees--he spent his last years in gloom and desperation, but he lives on in American letters as "the Lincoln of our literature."
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Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821–1881) was born in Moscow, as the second son of a former army doctor. In 1846 he joined a group of utopian socialists. He was arrested in 1849 during a reading of a radical letter, and sentenced to death. He spent four years in a convict prison in Siberia, after which he was obliged to enlist in the army. Dostoyevsky’s own harrowing experiences were the inspiration for the novel Crime and Punishment.
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Oscar Wilde
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was born on the 16th October 1854 and died on the 30th November 1900. He was an Irish playwright, poet, and author of numerous short stories and one novel. Known for his biting wit, he became one of the most successful playwrights of the late Victorian era in London, and one of the greatest celebrities of his day. Several of his plays continue to be widely performed, especially The Importance of Being Earnest.
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Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was an American writer, poet, and critic. Best known for his macabre prose work, including the short story “The Tell-Tale Heart,” his writing has influenced literature in the United States and around the world.
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Bram Stoker
Bram Stoker was born November 8, 1847, in Dublin, Ireland. Stoker was a sickly child who was frequently bedridden; his mother entertained him by telling frightening stories and fables during his bouts of illness. Stoker studied math at Trinity College Dublin, graduating in 1867. He worked as a civil servant, freelance journalist, drama critic, editor and, most notably, as manager of the Lyceum Theatre. Although best known for Dracula, Stoker wrote eighteen other books, including Under the Sunset, The Snake’s Pass, The Jewel of Seven Stars, The Lady of the Shroud, and The Lair of the White Worm. He died in 1912 at the age of sixty-four.
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Frances Hodgson Burnett
Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849–1924) was born in Manchester, England, but moved to America as a teenager. A gifted writer from childhood, Burnett took to writing as a means of supporting her family, creating stories for Lady’s Book, Harper’s Bazaar, and other magazines. Though she began writing novels for adults, she gained lasting success writing for children. She is best known for Little Lord Fauntleroy (1855–1856), A Little Princess (1905), and The Secret Garden (1911).
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Thomas Hardy was born in 1840 in Dorchester, Dorset. He enrolled as a student in King’s College, London, but never felt at ease there, seeing himself as socially inferior. This preoccupation with society, particularly the declining rural society, featured heavily in Hardy’s novels, with many of his stories set in the fictional county of Wessex. Since his death in 1928, Hardy has been recognised as a significant poet, influencing The Movement poets in the 1950s and 1960s.
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Mary Roberts Rinehart
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50 Masterpieces of Murder Mystery & Detective Fiction (Vol. 2)

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90 Masterpieces You Must Read (Vol.1) : Novels, Poetry, Plays, Short Stories, Essays, Psychology & Philosophy: The Madman, Moby-Dick, Siddhartha, Crime and Punishment, Hamlet, Great Expectations, Little Women, Meditations, The Einstein Theory, Heart of Darkness, The Red Badge of Courage

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Charles Dickens

Mark Twain

Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Oscar Wilde

Edgar Allan Poe

Bram Stoker

Charlotte Brontë

Anne Brontë

Emily Brontë

Arthur Conan Doyle

Frances Hodgson Burnett

Joseph Conrad

Walter Scott

Thomas Hardy

Mary Roberts Rinehart

Daniel Defoe

Agatha Christie

Alexandre Dumas

Washington Irving

Gaston Leroux

Wilkie Collins

H. G. Wells

A. A. Milne

D. H. Lawrence

E. C. Bentley

H. P. Lovecraft

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Anton Chekhov