Death at the Excelsior
Death at the Excelsior by P.G. Wodehouse: A young man named George Finch dies under mysterious circumstances at the Excelsior Hotel in New York City. The story follows the investigation of his death and the various suspects and motives that emerge.
By P. G. Wodehouse · First published 1923 · Genre: Mystery, Detective fiction, Short story · 9,223 words
First lines
The room was the typical bedroom of the typical boardinghouse, furnished, insofar as it could be said to be furnished at all, with a severe simplicity. It contained two beds, a pine chest of drawers, a strip of faded carpet, and a wash basin. But there was that on the floor which set this room apart from a thousand rooms of the same kind. Flat on his back, with his hands tightly clenched and one leg twisted oddly under him and with his teeth gleaming through his grey beard in a horrible grin, Captain John Gunner stared up at the ceiling with eyes that saw nothing.
What this Textopian page supports
Death at the Excelsior is listed on Textopian as a novella by P. G. Wodehouse, dated 1923 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: P. G. Wodehouse
- Date: 1923 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Detective fiction, Short story, Comedy
- Length: 9,223 words
- Structure: 1 section, 202 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Death at the Excelsior by P. G. Wodehouse
- 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 Death at the Excelsior?
- How does this novella by P. G. Wodehouse fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Laffaire Uncle John by P. G. Wodehouse
- A Shocking Affair by P. G. Wodehouse
- Mister Potter Takes A Rest Cure by P. G. Wodehouse
- Absent Treatment by P. G. Wodehouse
- Tom Dick And Harry by P. G. Wodehouse
- Without The Option by P. G. Wodehouse
Genres
- Mystery — The plot centers around a suspicious death investigated by a private detective, elements typical of a mystery genre.
- Detective fiction — The story prominently features a detective as the main resolution force, indicative of the detective fiction genre.
- Short story — The narrative has a concise, focused plot typical of a short story.
- Comedy — The author's signature humor and witty dialogue incorporated into the story implies elements of comedy.
Tags
mystery · comedy · humor · detective · whodunit · satire · British literature · early 20th century · lighthearted · romance · social commentary · character-driven