Hidden Foes, Or, A Fatal Miscalculation
Aug 2021 · Otbebookpublishing
Ebook
178
Pages
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About this ebook
Excerpt: "Nobody had heard the report of a pistol. There had been no disturbance; in fact, no audible altercation, no startling cry for help, or even a groan of sudden, terrible distress. The man lay there as motionless, nevertheless, as if felled by a thunderbolt. His life had been snuffed out like the flame of a candle by the fury of a whirlwind. Death had come upon him like a bolt from the blue. By slow degrees his face underwent a change—but it was not the change that ordinarily follows sudden death, that peaceful calm that marks the end of earthly toil and trouble. Instead, the smoothly shaven skin seemed to shrink and wither slightly over the dead nerves and lifeless muscles, and a singular slaty hue that was hardly perceptible settled around his lips and nostrils, partly dispelling the first deathly pallor. It was as if the blast from a furnace, or the searing touch of a fiery hand, had withered and parched it. He was a comparatively young man, not over thirty, and he was fashionably clad in a plaid business suit. He was lying flat on his back on the floor of the second-story corridor of a building known as the Waldmere Chambers, in the city of Madison."
About the author
Nicholas Carter, a pseudonym for John R. Coryell, was a prolific American author whose work spanned the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in 1848, Coryell became a defining figure in the world of dime novels and pulp fiction, a genre that captivated the imaginations of millions during its heyday. His creation of the detective character Nick Carter, a master of disguise and a paragon of justice, revolutionized the detective genre and set the stage for future literary sleuths.Coryell's writing career was marked by a relentless output and a keen sense of the public's appetite for thrilling, fast-paced narratives. His stories often delved into themes of morality, justice, and the triumph of good over evil, resonating with readers in an era of rapid social and technological change. His influence extended beyond literature, as the character of Nick Carter became a cultural icon, inspiring radio shows, films, and comic books.Despite his commercial success, Coryell's work was not without controversy. Critics often dismissed dime novels as lowbrow entertainment, unworthy of serious literary consideration. However, Coryell's ability to craft compelling stories that addressed contemporary issues, such as crime and corruption, challenged these perceptions and highlighted the genre's potential for social commentary.Coryell's legacy endures in the continued popularity of detective fiction and the enduring appeal of the archetypal hero he helped to popularize. His innovative approach to storytelling and character development influenced a generation of writers, including Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie, cementing his place in literary history as a pioneer of the modern detective story.
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