The Blackmailer of Park Lane
The Blackmailer of Park Lane is a novel by E.F. Benson that was first published in 1923. It tells the story of a young woman named Diana who becomes involved with a mysterious blackmailer known only as "X". The book explores themes such as love, betrayal, and revenge.
By E.F. Benson · Genre: Mystery, Crime, Thriller · 11,405 words
First lines
Arthur Whately had known very well what it was like to be desperately poor, and in consequence, when he became so desperately rich that money ceased to mean anything to him, his pity for the penurious was not hysterical or exaggerated. He could recall very vividly what it felt like to have neither tea, dinner nor supper, and to wake in the morning, stiff and cold as armour, on a bench on the Embankment and see the ridiculous needle of Cleopatra stonily pointing heavenwards against the sky, in which the stars were beginning to burn dim at the chilly approach of day. He had known how icy the feet become when they have been close clasped all night long in the frayed embraces of gaping leather, but he had known also how sweet and surprising it is to eat when food is imperiously demanded by the cravings of long-continued abstinence, and how ineffably luxurious to get warm when limbs have ached themselves numb.
What this Textopian page supports
The Blackmailer of Park Lane is listed on Textopian as a short story by E.F. Benson, dated Date unknown.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: E.F. Benson
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Crime, Thriller, Suspense, Historical Fiction
- Length: 11,405 words
- Structure: 1 section, 150 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Blackmailer of Park Lane by E.F. Benson
- 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 Blackmailer of Park Lane?
- How does this short story by E.F. Benson fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Shadow Of A Man by E. W. Hornung
- The White Glove by Fred M. White
- The Case For The Crown by Fred M. White
- White Face by Edgar Wallace
- Stolen Idols by E. Phillips Oppenheim
- The Nether Millstone by Fred M. White
Genres
- Mystery — Given the title, the plot likely revolves around the mysterious character of a blackmailer, implying a series of complex puzzles for the characters (and the reader) to unravel.
- Crime — The theme of blackmailing is a criminal activity, making it apt for the crime genre.
- Thriller — The plot likely involves the intense, suspenseful scenario of facing a blackmailer, making it a thriller.
- Suspense — The unknown identity of the blackmailer, their motives, and the characters’ responses to the situation would create a suspenseful atmosphere.
Tags
mystery · crime · suspense · thriller · blackmail · London · detective · intrigue · secrets · socialite · drama · plot twist