That Affair Next Door and Lost Man's LaneAnna Katharine Green was the most famous and prolific writer of detective fiction in the United States prior to Dashiell Hammett. Her first novel, The Leavenworth Case, was the bestseller of 1878. Green is credited with a number of “firsts” within the mystery genre, including the gentleman murdered as he makes out his will and the icicle as murder weapon. She created the first female detectives in American fiction. Her amateur spinster sleuth, Amelia Butterworth, became the prototype for numerous women detectives to follow, including Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple. Nosy, opinionated, and tenacious, Amelia Butterworth engages in a sustained rivalry with Ebenezer Gryce, a police detective. In the interaction between these characters, Green developed two more conventions adopted by future generations of mystery writers: the investigation as battle between the sexes and between the professional and the unexpectedly sharp, observant amateur. This volume presents two of Green’s Amelia Butterworth tales: That Affair Next Door (1897) and Lost Man’s Lane (1898). |
Contents
MISS BUTTERWORTHS WINDOW | 15 |
The Misses Van Burnam | 50 |
Developments | 58 |
Copyright | |
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Amelia Butterworth Anna Katharine Green answer asked astonishment began brother carriage CHARLES ROHLFS coach consider Coroner cried crime Deacon Spear Desberger detective detective fiction door doubt dreadful dress drew entered evidently expected eyes face father fear feel felt Franklin Van Burnam gave gentleman girl glance Gramercy Park Gryce hand head heard hour Howard Van Burnam interest James Pope knew Knollys family lady Lena look Loreen Lost Man's Lane Lucetta ma'am madam matter mind minutes Miss Althorpe Miss Butterworth Miss Knollys Miss Oliver morning Mother Jane murder mystery never night once passed perhaps person police present reason remarked reply rings Saracen secret seemed seen showed sight Simsbury smile sorbed stood stopped surprise suspicion talk tell thing thought took Trohm turned wife William window wish witness woman words young