The Problem of Cell 13

Name: The Problem of Cell 13
Author: Jacques Futrelle

The story revolves around a man who is wrongly accused and sentenced to death for murder. He escapes from prison by digging his way out of his cell, but instead of fleeing, he returns to the prison to expose the real killer. The narrative explores themes of justice, morality, and the human condition through the protagonist's actions.

By Jacques Futrelle · First published 1920 · Genre: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Crime · 42 chapters · 97,109 words

First lines

Practically all those letters remaining in the alphabet after Augustus S. F. X. Van Dusen was named were afterward acquired by that gentleman in the course of a brilliant scientific career, and, being honorably acquired, were tacked on to the other end. His name, therefore, taken with all that belonged to it, was a wonderfully imposing structure. He was a Ph. D., an LL. D., an F. R. S., an M. D., and an M. D. S. He was also some other things -- just what he himself couldn't say -- through recognition of his ability by various foreign educational and scientific institutions.

What this Textopian page supports

The Problem of Cell 13 is listed on Textopian as a novel by Jacques Futrelle, dated 1920 CE.

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

Work type: Novel
Author: Jacques Futrelle
Date: 1920 CE
Language: English
Genres: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Crime, Thriller, Short Story
Length: 97,109 words
Structure: 42 chapters, 2,664 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The Problem of Cell 13 by Jacques Futrelle
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Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

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How does this novel by Jacques Futrelle fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Similar titles

Genres

Mystery — The plot revolves around a seemingly impossible escape from a prison cell, which is a classic mystery setup.
Detective Fiction — The story features a detective-like character who uses logic and deduction to solve the problem.
Crime — The narrative involves a crime-related scenario, focusing on imprisonment and escape.
Thriller — The tension and suspense of the escape plan contribute to a thrilling atmosphere.