A Suspicious Gift
"A Suspicious Gift" is a short story by Algernon Blackwood, first published in 1904. The tale follows a man named John Marston, who receives an unusual gift from an old friend - a small box containing a mysterious object that seems to have a life of its own. As Marston tries to unravel the mystery of the box and its contents, he becomes increasingly obsessed with the object, leading him down a path of danger and uncertainty. Will Marston be able to uncover the truth behind the suspicious gift, or will it prove to be his undoing?
By Algernon Blackwood · First published 1904 · Genre: Horror, Mystery, Suspense · 5,986 words
First lines
Blake had been in very low water for months almost under water part of the time due to circumstances he was fond of saying were no fault of his own; and as he sat writing in his room on "third floor back" of a
New York boarding-house, part of his mind was busily occupied in wondering when his luck was going to turn again.
What this Textopian page supports
A Suspicious Gift is listed on Textopian as a short story by Algernon Blackwood, dated 1904 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Algernon Blackwood
- Date: 1904 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Psychological
- Length: 5,986 words
- Structure: 1 section, 78 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Suspicious Gift by Algernon Blackwood
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Suspicious Gift?
- How does this short story by Algernon Blackwood fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Horror first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- By Water by Algernon Blackwood
- The Tryst by Algernon Blackwood
- The Sacrifice by Algernon Blackwood
- The Empty House by Algernon Blackwood
- With Intent To Steal by Algernon Blackwood
- The Tradition by Algernon Blackwood
Genres
- Horror — The story involves elements of supernatural occurrences and chilling events which are associated with the Horror genre
- Mystery — The plot revolves around the mystery of a gift and its suspicious nature, suggesting a theme common in the Mystery genre
- Suspense — The author builds suspense throughout the story, with an unsettling and ambiguous gift at the center, marking it as a Suspense genre
- Thriller — Algernon Blackwood's style often imbues his work with an element of thrill, making this story part of the Thriller genre
Tags
ghost story · supernatural · mystery · thriller · horror · psychological · suspense · literary fiction · classic · vintage · British literature · 19th century