The Secret of the Garden

Name: The Secret of the Garden
Author: Arthur Gask

The Secret of the Garden follows a man wrongfully convicted of embezzlement who escapes prison and adopts a new identity as a jockey, facing danger and deception while striving for freedom and a fresh start. As he navigates his precarious situation, he must remain vigilant against the threat of discovery and learn to adapt to his new life.

By Arthur Gask · First published 1924 · Genre: Mystery, Adventure, Fantasy · 12 chapters · 85,034 words

First lines

It was the old fool of a judge himself who turned all my thoughts to bitterness. I know quite well I lost my temper, but he ought to have made allowances for that. I was under the terrible disappointment of being found guilty when I fully expected I should have got off. I was worn out with anxiety, and furious, because I didn't consider I had had a fair trial. Everything and everybody had been against me, and I don't wonder I hit out. I know I threatened, and said personal things about the judge that made the court laugh, but the judge ought to have been above petty spite and have taken no notice of my outburst at all.

What this Textopian page supports

The Secret of the Garden is listed on Textopian as a novel by Arthur Gask, dated 1924 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: Arthur Gask
Date: 1924 CE
Language: English
Genres: Mystery, Adventure, Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Children's Literature
Length: 85,034 words
Structure: 12 chapters, 1,626 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The Secret of the Garden by Arthur Gask
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 Secret of the Garden?
How does this novel by Arthur Gask fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Mystery — The plot revolves around uncovering secrets and hidden truths, typical of the mystery genre.
Adventure — The narrative includes elements of exploration and discovery, characteristic of adventure stories.
Fantasy — The presence of magical or extraordinary elements in the garden aligns with fantasy themes.
Literary Fiction — The writing style and character development reflect the depth and complexity found in literary fiction.