
The Man Who Lost Himself (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. An Edwardian Comedy of Mistaken Identity, Aristocratic Imposture, and Transatlantic Social SatireBy Henry De Vere StacpooleLength8h 25m
About this audiobook
The Man Who Lost Himself is a deft comedy of mistaken identity in which Victor Jones, an impecunious American in London, is drawn into the life of his aristocratic double, the Earl of Rochester. Stacpoole turns an improbable premise into a brisk social fantasia, using light irony, melodramatic pacing, and Edwardian manners to examine class performance, inherited privilege, and the fragility of personal identity within transatlantic popular fiction. Henry De Vere Stacpoole (1863–1951), an Irish-born physician, sailor, and prolific novelist, brought to his fiction a cosmopolitan familiarity with travel, social displacement, and the theatrical possibilities of circumstance. Best remembered for The Blue Lagoon, he often wrote romances and adventure tales in which environment reshapes character. His medical training and seafaring experience sharpened his eye for bodily resemblance, chance, and psychological adaptation—all central to this novel's conceit. Readers who enjoy elegant popular fiction, early twentieth-century social satire, and narratives of imposture will find The Man Who Lost Himself both entertaining and unexpectedly suggestive. Beneath its comic surface lies a shrewd meditation on how identity is recognized, performed, and sanctioned by society.
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
GenreHumor
Length8 hrs 25 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJul 8, 2019
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
22CHAPTER XV THE ATTACK (Continued)
2Introduction
23CHAPTER XVI A WILD SURPRISE
3Synopsis
24CHAPTER XVII THE SECOND HONEYMOON
4Historical Context
25CHAPTER XVIII THE MENTAL TRAP
5PART I
26CHAPTER XIX ESCAPE CLOSED
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6CHAPTER I JONES
27CHAPTER XX THE FAMILY COUNCIL
7CHAPTER II THE STRANGER
28CHAPTER XXI HOOVER’S
8CHAPTER III DINNER AND AFTER
29CHAPTER XXII AN INTERLUDE
9CHAPTER IV CARLTON HOUSE TERRACE
30CHAPTER XXIII SMITHERS
10CHAPTER V THE POINT OF THE JOKE
31CHAPTER XXIV HE RUNS TO EARTH
11PART II
32CHAPTER XXV MOTHS
12CHAPTER VI THE NET
33CHAPTER XXVI A TRAMP, AND OTHER THINGS
13CHAPTER VII LUNCHEON
34CHAPTER XXVII THE ONLY MAN IN THE WORLD WHO WOULD BELIEVE HIM
14CHAPTER VIII MR. VOLES
35CHAPTER XXVIII PEBBLEMARSH
15CHAPTER IX MORE INTRUDERS
36CHAPTER XXIX THE BLIGHTED CITY
16CHAPTER X LADY PLINLIMON
37CHAPTER XXX A JUST MAN ANGERED
17CHAPTER XI THE COAL MINE
38CHAPTER XXXI HE FINDS HIMSELF
18CHAPTER XII THE GIRL IN THE VICTORIA
39Analysis
19CHAPTER XIII TERESA
40Reflection
20PART III
41Memorable Quotes
21CHAPTER XIV THE ATTACK