A Dark Night's Work
The story revolves around a mysterious murder that takes place on a dark and stormy night in a small town. The victim is a wealthy and reclusive old man who was disliked by the community. Suspicion falls on his nephew, who stands to gain from the old man's death. However, as the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that nothing is as it seems, and the truth behind the murder is far more complex and surprising than initially thought.
By Elizabeth Gaskell · First published 1863 · Genre: Gothic Fiction, Victorian Literature, Romance · 16 chapters · 78,929 words
First lines
In the county town of a certain shire there lived (about forty years ago) one Mr. Wilkins, a conveyancing attorney of considerable standing.
What this Textopian page supports
A Dark Night's Work is listed on Textopian as a novel by Elizabeth Gaskell, dated 1863 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Elizabeth Gaskell
- Date: 1863 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Gothic Fiction, Victorian Literature, Romance, Social Commentary, Drama
- Length: 78,929 words
- Structure: 16 chapters, 1,029 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Dark Night's Work by Elizabeth Gaskell
- 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 A Dark Night's Work?
- How does this novel by Elizabeth Gaskell fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Gothic Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Let At Last by Elizabeth Gaskell
- In Absence by Edith Nesbit
- The Dead Secret by Wilkie Collins
- The Poor Clare by Elizabeth Gaskell
- The True Reading Of A Letter by Egerton Castle
- The House Of The Dead Hand Stories by Edith Wharton
Genres
- Gothic Fiction — The novel features dark and mysterious elements, including crime and moral dilemmas.
- Victorian Literature — The book is set in the Victorian era and reflects the social and cultural issues of the time.
- Romance — The story includes romantic relationships and emotional conflicts.
- Social Commentary — The narrative addresses class distinctions and societal expectations.
Tags
Mystery · Thriller · Suspense · Victorian Era · Gothic Fiction · Dark Secrets · Family Drama · Social Class · Small Town Life · Murder Mystery · Detective Work · Obsession
Contents
- CHAPTER I
- CHAPTER II
- CHAPTER III
- CHAPTER IV
- CHAPTER V
- CHAPTER VI
- CHAPTER VII
- CHAPTER VIII
- CHAPTER IX
- CHAPTER X
- CHAPTER XI
- CHAPTER XII
- CHAPTER XIII
- CHAPTER XIV
- CHAPTER XV
- CHAPTER XVI