Madame Midas by Fergus Hume (1888)

Name: Madame Midas
Author: Fergus Hume

The story revolves around Madame Midas, a wealthy and mysterious woman who lives in a grand mansion on the outskirts of Melbourne. She is known for her extravagant lifestyle and rumored to possess immense wealth. The plot unfolds when a young man named Arthur Morton becomes infatuated with Madame Midas' niece, Lucy. As Arthur gets closer to Lucy, he discovers that Madame Midas is hiding a dark secret related to her past and her wealth.

By Fergus Hume · First published 1888 · Genre: Drama, Romance, Historical Fiction · 35 chapters · 124,831 words

First lines

In the early days of Australia, when the gold fever was at its height, and the marvellous Melbourne of to-day was more like an enlarged camp than anything else, there was a man called Robert Curtis, who arrived in the new land of Ophir with many others to seek his fortune. Mr Curtis was of good family, but having been expelled from Oxford for holding certain unorthodox opinions quite at variance with the accepted theological tenets of the University, he had added to his crime by marrying a pretty girl, whose face was her fortune, and who was born, as the story books say, of poor but honest parents. Poverty and honesty, however, were not sufficient recommendations in the eyes of Mr Curtis, senior, to excuse such a match; so he promptly followed the precedent set by Oxford, and expelled his son from the family circle.

What this Textopian page supports

Madame Midas is listed on Textopian as a novel by Fergus Hume, dated 1888 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: 1888 CE
Language: English
Genres: Drama, Romance, Historical Fiction, Adventure, Mystery
Length: 124,831 words
Structure: 35 chapters, 2,512 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

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Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering Madame Midas?
How does this novel by Fergus Hume fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Drama first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Drama — The narrative explores complex human emotions, relationships, and societal issues, particularly through the character of Madame Midas and her struggles.
Romance — The story involves romantic relationships, particularly the tumultuous marriage between Madame Midas and Randolph Villiers.
Historical Fiction — Set during the gold rush in Australia, the novel reflects the historical context and societal dynamics of that era.
Adventure — The pursuit of fortune through gold mining and the challenges faced by the characters contribute to an adventurous plot.