A Mystery of Many Centuries
The story revolves around a wealthy man who has been murdered and his body discovered in a locked room with no signs of forced entry or exit. The police investigation reveals that the victim had many enemies due to his ruthless business practices. A detective is tasked with solving the case, but he becomes increasingly frustrated as he discovers that every person who was present at the scene of the crime has an alibi for the time of the murder. As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that the killer must have been someone who was not initially suspected. The detective's attention turns to a seemingly insignificant character who had been overlooked by everyone else. Through a series of clever deductions and observations, the detective is able to uncover the identity of the killer and expose their motive for the crime.
By O. Henry · First published 1911 · Genre: Humor, Social Commentary, Essay · 517 words
First lines
Up to a few years ago man regarded the means of locomotion possessed by the fair sex as a sacred areanum into which it were desecration to inquire.
What this Textopian page supports
A Mystery of Many Centuries is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1911 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: O. Henry
- Date: 1911 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Social Commentary, Essay, Fiction, Satire
- Length: 517 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Mystery of Many Centuries by O. Henry
- 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 Mystery of Many Centuries?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Humor first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- My Watch An Instructive Little Tale by Mark Twain
- The Strange Companion by Hilaire Belloc
- Mare Liberum Enter America by Henry Van Dyke
- The Esquimaux Maidens Romance by Mark Twain
- The Vagrant by Richard Harding Davis
- A Secret Letter by Hilaire Belloc
Genres
- Humor — The work employs wit and satire to comment on societal norms and gender roles, making humor the most relevant genre.
- Social Commentary — It critiques the changing perceptions of women and their roles in society, reflecting on cultural shifts.
- Essay — The narrative is structured as a reflective essay, exploring ideas rather than following a traditional plot.
- Fiction — While primarily an essay, it contains fictional elements and scenarios to illustrate its points.
Tags
Mystery · Short Story · Historical Fiction · Adventure · Romance · Fiction · Literary Fiction · Classic Literature · American Literature · 19th Century Literature · 20th Century Literature · Humor