The Sword of Damocles
The Sword of Damocles is a novel by Anna Katharine Green, published in 1899. It tells the story of a young woman named Ruth Vivian who is accused of murdering her stepfather. As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that there are many secrets and motives at play, and Ruth's innocence or guilt is not immediately apparent. The novel explores themes of family dynamics, loyalty, and the blurred lines between justice and vengeance. With its twists and turns, The Sword of Damocles is a classic example of the detective fiction genre and showcases Green's skill at crafting complex, suspenseful plots.
By Anna Katharine Green · First published 1902 · Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Crime · 46 chapters · 163,722 words
First lines
"There's no such word." -- BULWER.
A wind was blowing through the city. Not a gentle and balmy zephyr, stirring the locks on gentle ladies' foreheads and rustling the curtains in elegant boudoirs, but a chill and bitter gale that rushed with a swoop through narrow alleys and forsaken courtyards, biting the cheeks of the few solitary wanderers that still lingered abroad in the darkened streets.
What this Textopian page supports
The Sword of Damocles is listed on Textopian as a novel by Anna Katharine Green, dated 1902 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Anna Katharine Green
- Date: 1902 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Crime, Detective fiction, Drama
- Length: 163,722 words
- Structure: 46 chapters, 2,351 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Sword of Damocles by Anna Katharine Green
- 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 The Sword of Damocles?
- How does this novel by Anna Katharine Green fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Mystery — The novel involves a detective story with mysterious circumstances, denoting the mystery genre.
- Thriller — The plot includes suspenseful events and turn of events which fits into the thriller genre.
- Crime — The story revolves around criminal activities and investigations into them.
- Detective fiction — The protagonist is a detective trying to solve a crime which makes the story a detective fiction.
Tags
mystery · thriller · detective · crime · suspense · whodunit · classic · vintage · historical · romance · gothic · horror
Contents
- A WANDERER
- A DISCUSSION
- A MYSTERIOUS SUMMONS
- SEARCHINGS
- THE RUBICON
- A HAND CLASP
- MRS. SYLVESTER
- SHADOWS OF THE PAST
- PAULA
- THE BARRED DOOR
- MISS STUYVESANT
- MISS BELINDA MAKES CONDITIONS
- THE END OF MY LADY'S PICTURE
- MISS BELINDA HAS A QUESTION TO DECIDE
- AN ADVENTURE OR SOMETHING MORE
- THE SWORD OF DAMOCLES
- GRAVE AND GAY
- IN THE NIGHT WATCHES
- A DAY AT THE BANK
- THE DREGS IN THE CUP
- DEPARTURE
- HOPGOOD
- THE POEM
- THE JAPHA MANSION
- JACQUELINE
- A MAN'S JUSTICE AND A WOMAN'S MERCY
- THE LONE WATCHER
- SUNSHINE ON THE HILLS
- MIST IN THE VALLEY
- MISS BELINDA PRESENTS MR. SYLVESTER WITH A CHRISTMAS GIFT
- A QUESTION
- FULL TIDE
- TWO LETTERS
- PAULA MAKES HER CHOICE
- THE FALLING OF THE SWORD
- MORNING
- THE OPINION OF A CERTAIN NOTED DETECTIVE
- BLUE-BEARD'S CHAMBER
- FROM A. TO Z
- HALF-PAST SEVEN
- THE WORK OF AN HOUR
- PAULA RELATES A STORY SHE HAS HEARD
- DETERMINATION
- IN MR. STUYVESANT'S PARLORS
- "THE HOUR OF SIX IS SACRED."
- THE MAN CUMMINS