The Great French Detective, in Austin
A wealthy American returns to Paris after a long absence and is robbed of his fortune. He travels to Austin, Texas, where he encounters the Great French Detective, who is actually an American in disguise. The detective helps the victim recover his stolen money by using his knowledge of human psychology and behavior.
By O. Henry · First published 1902 · Genre: Mystery, Comedy, Social Commentary · 3 chapters · 2,882 words
First lines
It is not generally known that Tictocq, the famous French detective, was in Austin last week. He registered at the Avenue Hotel under an assumed name, and his quiet and reserved manners singled him out at once for one not to be singled out.
No one knows why he came to Austin, but to one or two he vouchsafed the information that his mission was an important one from the French Government.
What this Textopian page supports
The Great French Detective, in Austin is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1902 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: 1902 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Comedy, Social Commentary, Fiction, Satire
- Length: 2,882 words
- Structure: 3 chapters, 100 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Great French Detective, in Austin by O. Henry
- 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 The Great French Detective, in Austin?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Mystery — The plot revolves around a detective solving a theft, which is central to the narrative.
- Comedy — The writing style employs humor and satire, particularly in the dialogue and character interactions.
- Social Commentary — The story critiques political dynamics and societal norms, reflecting on the absurdities of politics.
- Fiction — The work is a fictional narrative that constructs a story around invented characters and events.
Tags
Mystery · Detective Fiction · Comedy · Satire · Social Commentary · American Literature · French Culture · Austin Setting · Humor · Irony · Plot Twist · Character Study