The Harlequin Opal (Vol. 1-3) (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Gothic NovelBy Fergus Hume
Length17h 53m
About this audiobook
The Harlequin Opal (Vol. 1-3) is a richly plotted late-Victorian sensation romance built around a jewel whose shifting colours suggest both fascination and fatality. Across its three-volume design, Hume combines inheritance intrigue, criminal concealment, romantic rivalry, and the quasi-Gothic symbolism of the uncanny gem. Its prose is brisk, theatrical, and highly readable, standing within the tradition of the Victorian "three-decker" while also anticipating the tighter mechanics of popular detective fiction. Fergus Hume, best known for The Mystery of a Hansom Cab, was unusually well placed to write such fiction. Born in England, raised in New Zealand, and professionally formed in Melbourne as a law clerk and barrister, he brought to his novels a colonial breadth of setting, a practical knowledge of legal procedure, and a newspaperman's instinct for public sensation. His career reflects the late-nineteenth-century appetite for mystery, mobility, disguise, and moral exposure. This book is recommended to readers interested in Victorian popular fiction at the meeting point of melodrama, romance, and crime. It will especially appeal to those who enjoy Wilkie Collins, imperial adventure, cursed-object narratives, and the evolution of mystery fiction before the modern detective novel fully crystallized.
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 (12)
Includes Goodreads
GenreMystery and Thriller, Historical Fiction
Length17 hrs 53 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateSep 17, 2021
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1The Greatest Thrillers of Fergus Hume (Annotated)
2Introduction
3Synopsis
4Historical Context
5Volume 1
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6Chapter I. Chums.
7Chapter II. The Devil Stone.
8Chapter III. "The Bohemian."
9Chapter IV. In the Track of Columbus.
10Chapter V. Don Miguel is Communicative.
11Chapter VI. Chalchuih Tlatonac.
12Chapter VII. Dolores.
13Chapter VIII. Viva El Republica.
14Chapter IX. The Call to Arms.
15Chapter X. Padre Ignatius.
16Chapter XI. The Drama of Little Things.
17Chapter XII. A Strange Disappearance.
18Volume 2
19Chapter I. Away to the North.
20Chapter II. Acauhtzin.
21Chapter III. Don Hypolito Xuarez.
22Chapter IV. Rivals.
23Chapter V. In Shadowland.
24Chapter VI. The Shrine of the Opal.
25Chapter VII. An Unexpected Meeting.
26Chapter VIII. An Indian Festival.
27Chapter IX. The Fugitives.
28Chapter X. Fortune Turns Her Wheel.
29Chapter XI. Away to the Front.
30Chapter XII. A Naval Engagement—New Style.
31Chapter XIII. Without the Walls.
32Volume 3
33Chapter I. Within the Walls.
34Chapter II. The Fall of Janjalla.
35Chapter III. The Flight to Tlatonac.
36Chapter IV. Exit Don Francisco Gomez.
37Chapter V. The Indian Raid.
38Chapter VI. The Luck of the Opal.
39Chapter VII. Under the Opal Flag.
40Chapter VIII. The Battle of Centeotl.
41Chapter IX. The Triumph of the Republic.
42Chapter X. The Cañon Road.
43Chapter XI. The Destiny of the Opal.
44Chapter XII. Farewell, Tlatonac.
45Analysis
46Reflection
47Memorable Quotes
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