"Villainy Detected!" Crime and Consequences in Britain and America in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries
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The Purloined Letter

38 Items.

  1. [External Resource] The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders
    This fictional autobiography traces the life of Moll, whose mother was convicted of theft before her birth. Her mother is sent to America and Moll remains in England. When Moll is all grown up, she has some relationship trouble, and ends up on a plantation in Virginia with her new husband. After realizing that she married her brother, she leaves him and begins a life of thievery, later being punished, just as her mother had.
    Book. 1722
  2. [External Resource] The Monk: A Romance
    Ambrosio is a well-respected monk in Spain during the time of the Inquisition. This novel traces his downfall from piety to lust, rape, and murder. Once caught by the Spanish Inquisition and given the death sentence, he makes a pact with the devil. Characteristics of the gothic novel and of the historic English mistrust of Roman Catholicism are seen throughout the book.
    Book. 1796
  3. [External Resource] Limbird's Edition of the British Novelist; Forming a Choice Collection of the Best Novels in the English Language, Embellished with Engravings. Vol. 1. "The Mysteries of Udolpho" and "A Sicilian Romance"
    In The Mysteries of Udolpho, the orphaned heroine is imprisoned in a medieval fortress; this novel delves into characters' psychological states. The second novel, A Sicilian Romance, explores Sicily's castles and convents in a way that reveals the aristocracy’s shame.
    Book. 1826
  4. [External Resource] The Adventures of Caleb Williams; Or, Things as They Are, Vol. 2
    Godwin's famous novel is the fictional and dystopian view of Caleb Williams, the son of a peasant. He is the secretary to a wealthy man who is accused of a crime and then murders his accuser. When Caleb discovers the truth, the man frames him, and Caleb, though innocent, is convicted, imprisoned, and tormented after his escape.
    Book. 1830
  5. [External Resource] Oliver Twist
    This novel's central theme is the hardship of the lower class. Oliver was a pauper child who was treated badly at a workhouse. He escaped to London, where he received an 'education' from the gang of Fagin.
    Book. 1837
  6. [External Resource] The History of the Life of Jonathan Wild, The Great. To Which is Added A Contemporary Life of Jonathan Wild.
    The story of the British rogue, Jonathan Wild, is chronicled here from birth to death.
    Book. 1840
  7. Popular admiration for great thieves
    Mackay recounts the lives of renowned thieves throughout Europe, including Robin Hood, Jack Sheppard, and Dick Turpin. Bandits such as these were admired and portrayed in penny theatres throughout Europe. Their acts of thievery brought them fame and admiration from the people.
    Article. 1841
  8. [External Resource] Jane Eyre
    Jane Eyre is a fictionalized autobiography of the author, who is orphaned at a young age and put in the custody of her cruel aunt. An escape leads her to the Lowood Institution, and she is trained to be a teacher, just as Charlotte was at the Cowan Bridge Institute. The rest of the book follows her teaching posts, including with the child of Mr. Rochester, where some romantic sparks light up.
    Book. 1847
  9. The philosophy of murder
    Paget states that the old styles of theft and murder are no longer occurring, but rather, poisoning is on the rise (especially among the poor). Specific reasons are provided for why this is the case. Furthermore, he states that this crime often goes unpunished because it is quite often difficult to prove (provides statistics of this crime) and Paget goes on to advocate for harsh sentences for the crime of poisoning, stating that capital punishment should be retained.
    Article. 1851
  10. [External Resource] Tales of Mystery, Imagination, & Humour: and Poems
    This collection of Poe tales includes the three famous Auguste Dupin detective stories: The Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Mystery of Marie Roget, and The Purloined Letter. Dupin is an exemplary detective who applies reason to his crime cases. The first story is a locked room murder; the second is fiction based on the real murder of Mary Cecilia Rogers; and the third is the page-turning search for the culprit that stole from the Queen.
    Book. 1852
  11. [External Resource] Bleak House
    This novel explores the author's frustration with the British legal system through a mixture of fiction and reality. It also boasts one of the first detectives to be in British fiction.
    Book. 1852-1853
  12. Suicide in life and literature
    Lewes examines how suicide is portrayed in daily life as well as in literature. He uses medical essays to discount the common claim that suicide is always committed by madmen and is a criminal act.
    Article. 1857
  13. [External Resource] The Novels of Charles Brockden Brown, Consisting of Wieland; or, The Transformation. Arthur Mervyn; or, Memoirs of the Year 1793. Edgar Huntly; or, Memoirs of a Sleep-Walker. Jane Talbot. Ormond; or, The Secret Witness. Clara Howard; or, The Enthusiam of Love. With a Memoir of the Author. Vol. 5
    Brown has a way of combining fictional characters and real historical situations, and draws on subjects such as the world of commerce and personal identity.
    Book. 1859
  14. [External Resource] The Marble Faun: or, The Romance of Monte Beni
    This novel, set in Rome, confronts the relationship between the real and the fake in life through its display in the world of art. It is a guidebook for Roman tourists, the story of a murder, and a parable to the Fall of Man.
    Book. 1860
  15. [External Resource] Great Expectations
    A story of a boy named Pip, who grows up with no expectations. After he inherits a great sum of money, he learns that great expectations are not as great as they seem.
    Book. 1862
  16. [External Resource] Lady Audley's Secret
    This book created quite a stir when it surfaced and rebelled against the typical stereotype of the Victorian woman. The plot includes murder, madness, bigamy, adultery, arson, blackmail; the list can go on.
    Book. 1862
  17. The decay of murder
    Stephen discusses how the act of murder has lost its sensationalism due to the uniformity of society. He focuses on the lack of originality in society and how this has changed the nature of murder and people's reaction to it. He ends the article signed "The Cynic."
    Article. 1869
  18. [External Resource] The Moonstone: A Novel
    Rachel Verinder inherits the large Indian diamond called the Moonstone on her eighteenth birthday from her corrupt uncle. The Moonstone is valuable and holds religious significance. Three Indian Hindus have dedicated their lives to recovering the diamond. Rachel wears the diamond at her birthday party for all to see, and it is stolen that night. The police are suspicious of a few people, including Rachel.
    Book. 1874
  19. [External Resource] Chap-books of the Eighteenth Century: With Facsimiles, Notes, and Introduction
    Ashton's compilation of chapbooks provides a window into the past. These books had a wide distribution, and more people read them than read newspapers. Reading them sheds light on the thoughts and tastes of people in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries.
    Book. 1882
  20. [External Resource] Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
    Dr. Jekyll creates a drug that purifies himself but separates his evil side into the character of Mr. Hyde. This novel explores the way that people are made of contrary emotions of good and evil.
    Book. 1886
  21. [External Resource] The Picture of Dorian Gray
    The sole novel of the author, The Picture of Dorian Gray is exactly as the title suggests. It starts with Dorian as a young boy and then progresses into his fall into murder and deception.
    . 1890
  22. [External Resource] The Mystery of a Hansom Cab
    This Australian murder mystery novel is set in Melbourne. The driver of a Hansom cab finds his passenger dead, and evidence points to Brian Fitzgerald. Fitzergerald, to protect the reputation of a young woman, does not disclose where he was at the time of the murder.
    Book. 1893
  23. [External Resource] Daniel Deronda
    This novel was controversial in the time it was written because it is about the relationship between an Englishwoman and a Jew. It reveals the anti-Semitic attitudes of Victorian culture.
    Book. 1894
  24. [External Resource] Tess of the D'Ubervilles, A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented
    This novel goes through the downfall of the title character. Tess is a hard-working girl from a peasant family who ends up being a convicted criminal at the end of her life.
    Book. 1895
  25. [External Resource] Vanity Fair: A Novel Without a Hero
    This satire of early 19th century England is the story of the fortunes and misfortunes of Amelia, Becky, and the men in their lives.
    Book. 1896
  26. Crime in current literature
    The author discusses how literature (novels and plays) about crime and criminals may increases the public's enchantment with it. The author goes on to discuss how much of the literature of the time pertains to this topic. Detective stories are of particular interest in this article. The author is greatly concerned with the moral repercussions that this literature has on society.
    Article. 1897
  27. [External Resource] The Scarlet Letter: A Romance
    This novel follows the implications of the adultery and illegitimate pregnancy of Hester Prynne, who is ostracized and forced to wear her shame on her clothing in the form of a scarlet letter 'A'.
    Book. 1898
  28. [External Resource] The Woman in White: A Novel
    One of the first "sensational novels," this is the story of an art instructor who encounters a mysterious woman in white and helps her in her state of distress. When he takes up a new position in Cumberland, he learns more of the woman.
    Book. 1899
  29. [External Resource] Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
    First published in a magazine series, the collection of stories features the author's famous detective Sherlock Holmes.
    Book. 1900
  30. [External Resource] The Hound of the Baskervilles: Another Adventure of Sherlock Holmes
    This full length Sherlock Holmes novel, narrated by his assistant Dr. Watson, documents their investigation of the supposed curse on the Baskerville family.
    Book. 1901
  31. [External Resource] A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four
    A Study in Scarlet is the first novel to feature the character of Sherlock Holmes. The first part of the novel includes the introduction of Dr. Watson to Holmes and the resolution of a case. The second half jumps to the United States and the Mormon community's involvement in kidnapping, murder, and enslavement. The Sign in Four is the second novel of the series and has a complex plot that humanizes the detective in a way not done in the first novel.
    Book. 1902
  32. [External Resource] The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
    This is a collection of short stories written about adventures of the detective Sherlock Holmes, and ends with his final adventure.
    Book. 1903
  33. [External Resource] The Return of Sherlock Homes
    The title character was revived in this set of short stories, set in 1894 before his death. This collection ends with the detective's retirement and his request that no more stories be published about him.
    Book. 1903
  34. [External Resource] McTeague
    This novel reveals the depths of greed in the characters of Mac, Trina, and Marcus. These characters all had their battles with greed after Trina won the lottery.
    Book. 1905
  35. [External Resource] The Literature of Roguery, Vol. 1
    This detailed study of the genre of roguery in literature first defines the genre and then follows the anti-hero through history. The first volume addresses earlier types of literature and authors.
    Book. 1907
  36. [External Resource] The Literature of Roguery, Vol. 2
    A continuation of F.W. Chandler's study that addresses specific authors classified in the genre of roguery in literature during the 18th and 19th centuries.
    Book. 1907
  37. [External Resource] His Last Bow: A Reminiscence of Sherlock Holmes
    This collection contains eight Sherlock Holmes stories published between 1908 and 1917.
    Book. 1917
  38. [External Resource] Victorian Detective Fiction
    This website makes an argument that the genre of Victorian detective fiction includes more than the Sherlock Holmes stories. The author goes through the change from sympathy for the criminal to detective story and sensational novel.
    Website. 2003
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