The Case of the Burnt Barn
The novel explores themes of class struggle, social injustice, and the corrupting influence of power. Morrison's use of detective fiction allows him to critique the societal issues of his time while providing an engaging and suspenseful narrative. The Case of the Burnt Barn is a significant work in the detective genre and remains relevant today due to its thought-provoking themes and well-crafted plot.
By Arthur Morrison · First published 1898 · Genre: Mystery, Crime, Detective Fiction · 5 chapters · 14,730 words
First lines
Everard Myatt -- or Catherton Hunt -- was lost again. Martin Hewitt had been wholly successful, for he had recovered Mr. Bell's missing bonds; but the police caught neither of the conspirators. Investigation at Henning's lodgings showed that careful preparations must have been made for an immediate flight if it should become necessary, and the flight had taken place. The man in the hospital, who had been knocked down in carrying from one to the other the extraordinary message that Hewitt deciphered, remained insensible for a few days, and could not be questioned till some time later still. Then he professed to have forgotten all about the message on which he was going when he met his accident, and the medical men in attendance informed the police that it was quite possible that the fellow's statement was true.
What this Textopian page supports
The Case of the Burnt Barn is listed on Textopian as a novel by Arthur Morrison, dated 1898 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Arthur Morrison
- Date: 1898 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Crime, Detective Fiction
- Length: 14,730 words
- Structure: 5 chapters, 190 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Case of the Burnt Barn by Arthur Morrison
- 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 Case of the Burnt Barn?
- How does this novel by Arthur Morrison fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Mystery — Given the author's notable contribution to detective fiction and the title hinting at an incident requiring investigation, this book is primarily classified as a mystery.
- Crime — The burning of a barn suggests that a crime has been committed, making the 'crime' genre relevant.
- Detective Fiction — Arthur Morrison is known for his detective novels and stories, so 'detective fiction' is likely a relevant genre.
Tags
mystery · detective · crime · thriller · suspense · village · small town · investigation · murder · burned barn · fire · arson