A Coin of Edward VII by Fergus Hume

Name: A Coin of Edward VII
Author: Fergus Hume

The story revolves around a rare coin of Edward VII that has been stolen from a wealthy collector. The thief is revealed to be a young woman who uses the coin to bribe a man into marrying her. However, the collector's nephew becomes suspicious and starts investigating the theft. As he delves deeper, he uncovers a web of deceit and blackmail involving several characters.

By Fergus Hume · First published 1903 · Genre: Mystery, Romance, Drama · 26 chapters · 98,164 words

First lines

Two old ladies sat in the corner of the drawing-room. The younger -- a colonial cousin of the elder -- was listening eagerly to gossip which dealt with English society in general, and Rickwell society in particular. They presumably assisted in the entertainment of the children already gathered tumultuously round the Christmas tree, provided by Mr. Morley; but Mrs. Parry's budget of scandal was too interesting to permit the relaxing of Mrs. McKail's attention.

"Ah yes," said Mrs. Parry, a hatchet-faced dame with a venomous tongue and a retentive memory, "Morley's fond of children, although he has none of his own."

What this Textopian page supports

A Coin of Edward VII is listed on Textopian as a novel by Fergus Hume, dated 1903 CE.

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

Work type: Novel
Author: Fergus Hume
Date: 1903 CE
Language: English
Genres: Mystery, Romance, Drama, Social Commentary, Historical Fiction
Length: 98,164 words
Structure: 26 chapters, 2,303 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

Good citation fit

Work identity for A Coin of Edward VII by Fergus Hume
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 Coin of Edward VII?
How does this novel by Fergus Hume fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Mystery — The plot revolves around interpersonal relationships and hidden motives, typical of mystery narratives.
Romance — The central theme involves romantic entanglements and unrequited love among the characters.
Drama — The book explores emotional conflicts and character development, characteristic of dramatic literature.
Social Commentary — The dialogue and interactions reflect societal norms and critiques of social behavior.