- 258 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
Mint Editions (Literary Criticism and Writing Techniques)
About This Book
The Technique of the Mystery Story (1914) is a book by Carolyn Wells. Before she began writing her Detective Fleming Stone series of mystery novels, Carolyn Wells was a published poet, accomplished children's author, and professional jingle writer. In the middle of her career, she heard a mystery story by Anna Katharine Green and was instantly hooked. Through years of practice and attention to the craft, she earned a reputation as a leading fiction writer of her generation, an adept craftswoman whose stories appeared in some of the leading newspapers and magazines of the day. "Why is the detective story? To entertain, to interest, to amuse. It has no deeper intent, no more subtle raison d'ĂȘtre than to give pleasure to its readers." Writing is a simple act, requiring only the mind, a pen, and a piece of paper. But how does one write well, grabbing the reader's attention and ensuring their time will be rewarded by the end of the story? In The Technique of the Mystery Story, Carolyn Wells cuts to the core of a craft she defined despite coming to it late in her career. Exploring the history of the genre, defining its many different forms, and illuminating the stylistic choices that keep a mystery tale running smoothly, Wells provides an invaluable template for writers looking to follow in her footsteps or for readers looking for access to the mind and process of a woman revered in her field. This edition of Carolyn Wells' The Technique of the Mystery Story is a classic work of American detective fiction reimagined for modern readers.
Since our inception in 2020, Mint Editions has kept sustainability and innovation at the forefront of our mission. Each and every Mint Edition title gets a fresh, professionally typeset manuscript and a dazzling new cover, all while maintaining the integrity of the original book.
With thousands of titles in our collection, we aim to spotlight diverse public domain works to help them find modern audiences. Mint Editions celebrates a breadth of literary works, curated from both canonical and overlooked classics from writers around the globe.
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Table of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Contents
- I. The Eternal Curious
- II. The Literature of Mystery
- III. The History of Mystery
- IV. Ghost Stories
- V. Riddle Stories
- VI. Detective Stories
- VII. The Detective
- VIII. Deduction
- IX. Applied Principles
- X. The Rationale of Ratiocination
- XI. Close Observation
- XII. Other Detectives of Fiction
- XIII. Portraits
- XIV. Devious Devices
- XV. Footprints and Fingerprints
- XVI. More Devices
- XVII. False Devices
- XVIII. Murder in General
- XIX. Persons in the Story
- XX. The Handling of the Crime
- XXI. The Motive
- XXII. Evidence
- XXIII. Structure
- XXIV. Plots
- XXV. Further Advices
- XXVI. Final Advices
- A Note About the Author
- A Note from the Publisher