The Borough Treasurer

Name: The Borough Treasurer
Author: J.S. Fletcher

The story revolves around a small town's struggle to maintain its financial stability amidst the economic downturn of the late 19th century. The Borough Treasurer, a man with a reputation for being frugal and responsible, must navigate the complexities of local politics while dealing with the consequences of his own past mistakes. As the town faces bankruptcy, the treasurer is forced to make difficult decisions that will impact the lives of its citizens. His efforts are met with resistance from various factions within the community, each with their own agendas and motivations. Throughout the novel, themes of accountability, responsibility, and the human cost of economic hardship are explored. The story raises questions about the role of government in times of crisis and the moral implications of prioritizing financial stability over social welfare.

By J.S. Fletcher · First published 1910 · Genre: Mystery, Crime, Detective · 31 chapters · 94,881 words

First lines

Half way along the north side of the main street of Highmarket an ancient stone gateway, imposing enough to suggest that it was originally the entrance to some castellated mansion or manor house, gave access to a square yard, flanked about by equally ancient buildings. What those buildings had been used for in other days was not obvious to the casual and careless observer, but to the least observant their present use was obvious enough. Here were piles of timber from Norway; there were stacks of slate from Wales; here was marble from Aberdeen, and there cement from Portland: the old chambers of the grey buildings were filled to overflowing with all the things that go towards making a house -- ironwork, zinc, lead, tiles, great coils of piping, stores of domestic appliances. And on a shining brass plate, set into the wall, just within the gateway, were deeply engraven the words: _Mallalieu and Cotherstone, Builders and Contractors_.

What this Textopian page supports

The Borough Treasurer is listed on Textopian as a novel by J.S. Fletcher, dated 1910 CE.

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

Work type: Novel
Author: J.S. Fletcher
Date: 1910 CE
Language: English
Genres: Mystery, Crime, Detective, Thriller, Drama
Length: 94,881 words
Structure: 31 chapters, 1,514 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Mystery — The plot revolves around a mysterious financial discrepancy and the investigation that follows.
Crime — Central to the story is a crime involving embezzlement and its implications.
Detective — Features a detective character who plays a key role in unraveling the mystery.
Thriller — The narrative includes suspenseful elements and tension as the investigation unfolds.