Three Wise Men of the East Side by Irvin S. Cobb
The story revolves around three men who are brought together to form a detective agency on the East Side of New York City. They are an unlikely trio: a former prizefighter, a lawyer, and a doctor. The agency's first case involves a missing person, which they solve through their unique skills and teamwork.
By Irvin S. Cobb · First published 1903 · Genre: Crime, Drama, Psychological Fiction · 8,609 words
First lines
While he was in the death-house Tony Scarra did a lot of thinking. You / couldn't imagine a better place for thinking; it goes on practically / all the time there and intensively. But no matter where the thoughts / range and no matter what elements enter into them -- hope or despair, / rebellion or resignation, or whatever -- sooner or later they fly back, / like dark homing pigeons, to a small iron door opening upon a room in / which, bolted to the floor, there is a chair with straps dangling from / its arms and from its legs and its head-rest -- in short, the Chair. This / picture is the beginning and the end of all the thinking that is done / in the death-house.
What this Textopian page supports
Three Wise Men of the East Side is listed on Textopian as a short story by Irvin S. Cobb, dated 1903 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Irvin S. Cobb
- Date: 1903 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Crime, Drama, Psychological Fiction, Thriller, Legal Fiction
- Length: 8,609 words
- Structure: 1 section, 75 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Three Wise Men of the East Side by Irvin S. Cobb
- 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
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Genres
- Crime — The plot revolves around a criminal, Tony Scarra, in the death-house, contemplating his fate and planning an escape from execution.
- Drama — The narrative explores deep emotional and psychological themes, such as despair, regret, and the struggle for survival.
- Psychological Fiction — The story delves into the mind of a condemned man, examining his thoughts and motivations as he faces imminent death.
- Thriller — The tension and suspense build as Scarra plots with his lawyer and a guard to escape his fate, creating a sense of urgency and danger.
Tags
Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · New York City · Urban Life · Working Class · Immigration · Ethnicity · Cultural Identity · Class Struggle · Poverty · Proletariat