The Best American Mystery Stories of the Nineteenth Century (The Best American Series ®) - Hardcover

Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mark Twain, Louisa May Alcott, L. Frank Baum, Edith Wharton, Stephen Crane, Jack London: mystery writers? Of course, Edgar Allan Poe’s pioneering stories are included in this collection, but you'll also find a thriller from Alcott, a tale of Gilded Age suspense from Wharton, and a case from a known admirer of Poe’s, Abraham Lincoln. The literary lights and well-known names writing stories of crime, mystery, and murder attest to the deep roots of the genre and, ultimately, its popularity in nineteenth-century America.

Spanning the years 1824 to 1899, the thirty-three stories in this collection trace the origins and evolution of mystery elements familiar to modern readers. The investigative maverick who works outside the system and the innocent man accused of a heinous crime both make early appearances. For the first time in fiction, fingerprints are used to identify a murderer, and there’s even a case solved by ballistic analysis—in 1827. With crime, detective, suspense, and riddle stories, ranging from humorous to deeply dark, this volume provides a surprising and comprehensive look at the DNA of the American mystery.
 

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Praise for The Best American Mystery Stories of the 19th Century

“Passion, mystery and adventure chosen from the past with a connoisseur's eye for the enjoyment of the present.” — Anne Perry, best-selling author of Blood on the Water

“When asked why I am so intrigued by the 19th century, I could hand over The Best American Mystery Stories of the 19th Century as my answer. This terrific anthology is a labyrinth of fascinating subjects and obsessions from some of the expected and some surprising names of the period, all framed with stylish insights and contexts by Otto Penzler.” — Matthew Pearl, best-selling author of The Dante Club and The Technologists