A Creature of the Night

The story revolves around a mysterious woman who appears to be a vampire, preying on young men in London. The protagonist, a young doctor, becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth behind her supernatural powers and the series of unexplained deaths. As he delves deeper into the mystery, he finds himself torn between his scientific rationality and the eerie fascination he develops for the creature.

By Fergus Hume · First published 1916 · Genre: Gothic Fiction, Mystery, Horror · 18 chapters · 58,356 words

First lines

I think it is Lord Beaconsfield who, in one of his brilliant stories, makes the clever observation that "adventures are to the adventurous," and certainly he who seeks for adventures even in this prosaic nineteenth century will surely succeed in his quest. Fate leads him, chance guides him, luck assists him, and although the adventure supplied by this trinity of circumstances may be neither so dangerous nor so picturesque as in the time of Borgia or Lazun, still it will probably be interesting, which after all is something to be grateful for in this eminently commonplace age of facts and figures. Still, even he who seeks not to prove the truth of Disraeli's aphorism, may, after the principle of Mahomet's mountain, have the adventure come to him, without the trouble of looking for it, and this was my case at Verona in the summer of 18.

What this Textopian page supports

A Creature of the Night is listed on Textopian as a novel by Fergus Hume, dated 1916 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: 1916 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Gothic Fiction, Mystery, Horror, Romance, Historical Fiction
• Length: 58,356 words
• Structure: 18 chapters, 1,194 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for A Creature of the Night 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 Creature of the Night?
• How does this novel by Fergus Hume fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Gothic Fiction first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

• The Silver Bullet by Fergus Hume
• The Wooden Hand by Fergus Hume
• The Black Patch by Fergus Hume
• The Gates Of Dawn by Fergus Hume
• The Spider by Fergus Hume
• The Sacred Herb by Fergus Hume

Genres

• Gothic Fiction — The story features supernatural elements, a dark atmosphere, and themes of death and the macabre, typical of Gothic literature.
• Mystery — The protagonist's pursuit of the mysterious woman and the unfolding intrigue surrounding her actions create a central mystery.
• Horror — The presence of fear, the supernatural, and the eerie setting contribute to a horror atmosphere.
• Romance — The narrative includes elements of romantic intrigue, particularly in the interactions between the protagonist and the mysterious woman.

Tags

Mystery · Thriller · Suspense · Crime Fiction · Detective Novel · Victorian Era · London Setting · Gothic Atmosphere · Dark Fantasy · Supernatural Elements · Vampire Fiction · Horror

Contents

• The Ghoul
• A Boccaccian Adventure
• The Feast of Ghosts
• The Angello Household
• Lost
• A Haunted Palace
• At the Teatro Ezzelino
• The Phantom of Lucrezia Borgia
• Fiore Della Casa
• A Voice in the Darkness
• The Marchese Beltrami
• Death in Life
• "down Among the Dead Men."
• The New Lazarus
• Found
• An Interrupted Honeymoon
• Nemesis
• A Last Word

More by Fergus Hume

• The Mystery Queen (1912)
• The Caravan Crime (1924)
• The Crowned Skull (1908)
• The Green Mummy (1908)
• The Mystery of a Hansom Cab (1886)
• The Secret Passage (1905)
• Madame Midas (1888)
• Red Money (1892)
• All works by Fergus Hume