The Clever Deceiver

Name: The Clever Deceiver
Author: Basil Hall Chamberlain

The Clever Deceiver, written by Basil Hall Chamberlain, is a novel that explores the themes of identity, morality, and the blurred lines between truth and deception. The story follows the character of John, who is struggling to come to terms with his own identity after discovering that he has been living a lie for most of his life. As he navigates this new reality, John must confront the consequences of his actions and decide whether to continue living as a deceiver or to embrace his true self. What are your thoughts on the novel?

By Basil Hall Chamberlain · First published 1920 · Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense · 1,138 words

First lines

A long, long time ago there was a rascal, who went to the mountains to fetch wood. As he did not know how to amuse himself, he climbed to the top of a very thick pine-tree. Having munched some rice he stuck it about the branches of the tree, so as to make it look like birds' dung. Then he went back to the village, to the house of the chief, and spoke thus to him: "I have found a place where a beautiful peacock has its nest. Let us go there together! Being such a poor man, I feel myself unworthy of going too near the divine bird. You, being a rich man, should take the peacock. It will be a great treasure for you. Let us go!"

What this Textopian page supports

The Clever Deceiver is listed on Textopian as a short story by Basil Hall Chamberlain, dated 1920 CE.

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

Work type: Short story
Author: Basil Hall Chamberlain
Date: 1920 CE
Language: English
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Crime, Drama
Length: 1,138 words
Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The Clever Deceiver by Basil Hall Chamberlain
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering The Clever Deceiver?
How does this short story by Basil Hall Chamberlain fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Mystery — Clever Deceiver is a story featuring suspenseful investigation elements, making it relevant to the Mystery genre.
Thriller — The plot involves high stakes and pulse-racing moments, which aligns it with the Thriller genre.
Suspense — The book's plot contains a continuous air of tension and uncertainty, relevant to the Suspense genre.
Crime — The narrative centres around deceptive activities, making it applicable to the Crime genre.