Ptomaine Street by Carolyn Wells

Name: Ptomaine Street
Author: Carolyn Wells

Carolyn Wells' "Ptomaine Street" is a novel that explores the lives of the residents of Ptomaine Street, a small, working-class neighborhood in an unnamed city. The story follows the characters as they navigate their daily routines and struggles, including financial difficulties, romantic entanglements, and personal crises. Through their experiences, Wells examines themes of class, identity, and the search for meaning and purpose in life.

By Carolyn Wells · First published 1924 · Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Detective Fiction · 13 chapters · 31,077 words

First lines

On a Pittsburgh block, where three generations ago might have been heard Indian war-whoops -- yes, and the next generation wore hoops, too -- a girl child stood, in evident relief, far below the murky gray of the Pittsburgh sky.

She couldn't see an Indian, not even a cigar store one, and she wouldn't have noticed him anyway, for she was shaking with laughter.

What this Textopian page supports

Ptomaine Street is listed on Textopian as a novel by Carolyn Wells, 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: Carolyn Wells
Date: 1924 CE
Language: English
Genres: Mystery, Suspense, Detective Fiction, Humor
Length: 31,077 words
Structure: 13 chapters, 1,006 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Ptomaine Street by Carolyn Wells
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering Ptomaine Street?
How does this novel by Carolyn Wells fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Mystery — The novel revolves around the mysterious death of a rich man, involving detective characters and intricate puzzles, typical of the Mystery genre.
Suspense — The narration uses tension-building techniques and surprise elements to heighten the sense of danger, making it a Suspense story.
Detective Fiction — The narrative centers on detectives investigating and solving the mystery of man's death, aligning it with the Detective Fiction genre.
Humor — Carolyn Wells incorporates humorous dialogue and funny situations throughout the narrative which adds the element of humor to the book.