The Great Temptation (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Crime & Mystery ThrillerBy Richard Marsh
Length11h 54m
About this audiobook
The Great Temptation is a characteristic late-Victorian novel of moral crisis, social pressure, and sensational intrigue. Marsh examines the moment when desire—whether for money, status, security, or forbidden pleasure—begins to distort judgment and unsettle identity. Written in a brisk, suspenseful prose, the book belongs to the fin-de-siècle world of sensation fiction, where domestic respectability is repeatedly threatened by secrecy, coincidence, and psychological strain. Richard Marsh was the pen name of Richard Bernard Heldmann, best remembered today for The Beetle, though his range extended across mystery, Gothic fantasy, comedy, and crime. His career in popular journalism and fiction gave him a sharp instinct for narrative momentum, while his own experience of scandal, punishment, and reinvention may help explain his recurring fascination with temptation, disgrace, and the fragile performance of respectability. This book is recommended to readers interested in Victorian popular fiction beyond the established canon. It will especially appeal to those who admire Wilkie Collins, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, and the darker entertainments of the 1890s. Marsh offers not only melodramatic pleasure but also a revealing study of moral vulnerability in a society obsessed with appearances.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★ 3.4 (23)
Includes Goodreads
GenreMystery and Thriller
Length11 hrs 54 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJul 18, 2018
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
2Introduction
3Synopsis
4Historical Context
5BOOK I
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6CHAPTER I THE PONY-SKIN COAT
7CHAPTER II IMPRISONED
8CHAPTER III CRASH! CAME THE KNOCKER
9CHAPTER IV UNDERSTANDING
10CHAPTER V THE PILL
11CHAPTER VI TO NEW YORK FOR £500
12CHAPTER VII AT THE RISK OF HIS LIFE
13CHAPTER VIII GROVE GARDENS
14CHAPTER IX CATHERINE
15CHAPTER X THE OWNER OF THE COAT
16CHAPTER XI CATHERINE'S IDEA
17CHAPTER XII TWENTY-TWO
18BOOK II
19CHAPTER XIII THE FIRST STAGE OF THE JOURNEY
20CHAPTER XIV ABEDNEGO P. THOMPSON
21CHAPTER XV HUGH'S NOTE
22CHAPTER XVI A MEMORY OF MOSCOW
23CHAPTER XVII MR. TROUNCER'S STORY
24CHAPTER XVIII CATHERINE'S TROUBLE
25CHAPTER XIX CHANGED
26CHAPTER XX AN UNSOLICITED INTRODUCTION
27CHAPTER XXI TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS
28CHAPTER XXII THE FIRST NIGHT
29CHAPTER XXIII "DEVIL OF A WOMAN!"
30CHAPTER XXIV ALMOST WITHIN SIGHT OF LAND
31BOOK III
32CHAPTER XXV THE PATIENT
33CHAPTER XXVI TWO FRIENDS
34CHAPTER XXVII CALLERS
35CHAPTER XXVIII NURSE ADA
36CHAPTER XXIX PARKER VAN GROOT
37CHAPTER XXX AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR
38CHAPTER XXXI EXERCISING PRESSURE
39CHAPTER XXXII MR. BENNINGTON'S OPINION
40CHAPTER XXXIII POSTE RESTANTE
41CHAPTER XXXIV HUGH'S PORTRAIT
42CHAPTER XXXV THE GREAT TEMPTATION
43CHAPTER XXXVI PRINCESS KITTY
44CHAPTER XXXVII MRS. VAN GROOT DISCLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY
45CHAPTER XXXVIII HIS FIRST APPEARANCE
46CHAPTER XXXIX "THE JOYOUS BRIDE"
47CHAPTER XL THE MOST EXPENSIVE HAT IN THE WORLD
48CHAPTER XLI THE "MAISON CATHERINE"
49Analysis
50Reflection
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