A Son of Perdition by Fergus Hume

The story revolves around the mysterious disappearance of Lady Mary Wychwood, a beautiful and wealthy young woman, from her family's estate in the countryside. The investigation that follows reveals a complex web of deceit, blackmail, and murder, involving several suspects with secrets to hide. As the truth begins to unravel, it becomes clear that nothing is as it seems, and the true culprit is far more cunning than initially suspected.

By Fergus Hume · First published 1899 · Genre: Romance, Literary Fiction, Philosophical Fiction · 24 chapters · 127,815 words

First lines

"How can any one hope to transfer that to canvas? " asked the artist, surveying the many-coloured earth and sky and sea with despairing eyes.

"Easily enough," replied the girl at his elbow, "those who see twice as vividly as others, can make others see once as vividly as they do. That is what we call genius."

What this Textopian page supports

A Son of Perdition is listed on Textopian as a novel by Fergus Hume, dated 1899 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: 1899 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Romance, Literary Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Drama, Historical Fiction
• Length: 127,815 words
• Structure: 24 chapters, 2,591 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

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

Similar titles

• The Gates Of Dawn by Fergus Hume
• The Fever Of Life by Fergus Hume
• Madame Midas by Fergus Hume
• Jonahs Luck by Fergus Hume
• The Harlequin Opal Volume 3 by Fergus Hume
• The Harlequin Opal Volume 1 by Fergus Hume

Genres

• Romance — The central plot revolves around the romantic tension and unrequited love between the main characters, Hardwick and Alice.
• Literary Fiction — The book explores complex themes of love, self-discovery, and the nature of relationships, characteristic of literary fiction.
• Philosophical Fiction — The dialogue includes discussions on love, existence, and reincarnation, reflecting philosophical inquiries.
• Drama — The emotional conflicts and character interactions create a dramatic narrative.

Tags

Mystery · Thriller · Crime Fiction · Detective Novel · Australian Literature · 19th Century · Gothic Fiction · Suspense · Murder Mystery · Whodunit · Classic Detective Story · Victorian Era

Contents

• Love in Idleness
• The Prophecy
• The Fulfilment
• Plotting
• The Meeting
• A Conversation
• Behind the Scenes
• Love's Young Dream
• The Warning
• In Cornwall
• The Spider and the Fly
• Small Beer Chronicles
• Further Small Beer Chronicles
• Preparation
• The Trance
• The Disciple of Love
• The Disciple of Hate
• The Night Before
• The Morning After
• The Unexpected
• The Choice
• Right is Might
• The Eternal Strife
• Dawn

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