The Beast with Five Fingers
The story follows the strange events that occur in the Italian villa of the wealthy and eccentric Julian Faunce. After the death of Faunce, his servants begin to experience strange occurrences, including the appearance of a disembodied hand that seems to have a life of its own. The hand, which is believed to be the spirit of Faunce, begins to terrorize the servants, leaving them in fear of their lives. As the story progresses, the hand begins to take on a more sinister role, as it begins to manipulate the servants and even commit murder. The story culminates in a thrilling climax as the servants attempt to stop the hand and discover the truth behind its existence. The Beast with Five Fingers is a classic horror story that is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats.
By William Fryer Harvey · First published 1946 · Genre: Horror, Mystery, Gothic Fiction · 10,224 words
First lines
The story, I suppose, begins with Adrian Borlsover, whom I met when I was a little boy and he an old man. My father had called to appeal for a subscription, and before he left, Mr. Borlsover laid his right hand in blessing on my head. I shall never forget the awe in which I gazed up at his face and realized for the first time that eyes might be dark and beautiful and shining and yet not able to see.
For Adrian Borlsover was blind.
What this Textopian page supports
The Beast with Five Fingers is listed on Textopian as a novel by William Fryer Harvey, dated 1946 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: William Fryer Harvey
- Date: 1946 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Mystery, Gothic Fiction, Fantasy
- Length: 10,224 words
- Structure: 1 section, 266 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Beast with Five Fingers by William Fryer Harvey
- 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 The Beast with Five Fingers?
- How does this novel by William Fryer Harvey fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Horror first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Horror — The title of the book, 'The Beast with Five Fingers', implies a horror story, as it is a mysterious and frightening creature. The plot of the book follows a group of people who are terrorized by a disembodied hand, which is a classic horror trope.
- Mystery — The book follows a group of people trying to solve the mystery of the disembodied hand, and the plot is full of suspense and intrigue as they try to uncover the truth.
- Gothic Fiction — The book has a gothic atmosphere, with a mysterious and eerie setting, and a sense of dread and horror that pervades the story.
- Fantasy — The book contains elements of fantasy, such as the mysterious and seemingly supernatural disembodied hand, which adds to the suspense and intrigue of the story.
Tags
horror · mystery · supernatural · suspense · thriller · gothic · occult · paranormal · short story · psychological · dark fiction · creepy