The Mystery of Edwin Drood is the final novel by Charles Dickens. The novel was left unfinished at the time of Dickens' death, and readers have often speculated what the ending might have been
The Mystery of Edwin Drood is the final novel by Charles Dickens. The novel was unfinished at the time of Dickens's death (9 June 1870) and his ending for it is unknown. Though the novel is named after the character Edwin Drood, the story focuses on Drood's uncle, precentor, choirmaster and opium addict, John Jasper, who is in love with his pupil, Rosa Bud. Miss Bud, Drood's fianc e, has also caught the eye of the high-spirited and hot-tempered Neville Landless, who comes from Ceylon with his twin sister, Helena. Landless and Drood take an instant dislike to one another. Drood later disappears under mysterious circumstances.
An ancient English Cathedral Tower? How can the ancient English Cathedral tower be here The well-known massive gray square tower of its old Cathedral? How can that be here There is no spike of rusty iron in the air, between the eye and it, from any point of the real prospect. What is the spike that intervenes, and who has set it up? Maybe it is set up by the Sultan's orders for the impaling of a horde of Turkish robbers, one by one. It is so, for cymbals clash, and the Sultan goes by to his palace in long procession. Ten thousand scimitars flash in the sunlight, and thrice ten thousand dancing-girls strew flowers. Then, follow white elephants caparisoned in countless gorgeous colours, and infinite in number and attendants. Still the Cathedral Tower rises in the background, where it cannot be, and still no writhing figure is on the grim spike. Stay Is the spike so low a thing as the rusty spike on the top of a post of an old bedstead that has tumbled all awry? Some vague period of drowsy laughter must be devoted to the consideration of this possibility.
Edwin Drood is contracted to marry orphan Rosa Bud when he comes of age, but when they find that duty has gradually replaced affection, they agree to break off the engagement. Shortly afterwards, in the middle of a storm on Christmas Eve, Edwin disappears, leaving nothing behind but some personal belongings and the suspicion that his jealous uncle John Jasper, madly in love with Rosa, is the killer. And beyond this presumed crime there are further intrigues: the dark opium dens of the sleepy cathedral town of Cloisterham, and the sinister double life of Choirmaster Jasper, whose drug-fuelled fantasy life belies his respectable appearance. Dickens died before completing The Mystery of Edwin Drood, leaving its tantalising mystery unsolved and encouraging successive generations of readers to turn detective. This edition contains an introduction by David Paroissien, discussing the novel's ending, with a chronology, notes, original illustrations by Samuel Luke Fildes, appendices on opium use in the nineteenth century, the 'Sapsea Fragment' and Dickens's plans for the story's conclusion. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
The Mystery of Edwin Drood is the final novel by Charles Dickens. The novel was unfinished at the time of Dickens's death (9 June 1870) and his ending for it is unknown. Though the novel is named after the character Edwin Drood, the story focuses on Drood's uncle, precentor, choirmaster and opium addict, John Jasper, who is in love with his pupil, Rosa Bud. Miss Bud, Drood's fianc e, has also caught the eye of the high-spirited and hot-tempered Neville Landless, who comes from Ceylon with his twin sister, Helena. Landless and Drood take an instant dislike to one another. Drood later disappears under mysterious circumstances. The story is set in Cloisterham, a lightly disguised Rochester. Mr Crisparkle, for example, lives in a clergy house in Minor Canon Corner, which corresponds to a genuine address within the precincts of Rochester Cathedral, namely Minor Canon Row.
Collector's Edition Laminated Hardback with Jacket In the shadowy town of Cloisterham, a young man named Edwin Drood becomes entangled in a web of mystery, obsession, and jealousy. As he prepares for his arranged marriage to the headstrong Rosa Bud, tensions rise, especially with his passionate and volatile uncle, John Jasper, who harbors dark secrets of his own. When Edwin suddenly disappears under suspicious circumstances, suspicions and rumors spread, revealing hidden rivalries and unspoken desires. With a cast of eccentric characters and an atmosphere thick with intrigue, the story unfolds into a haunting puzzle that lingers long after the final page.As Charles Dickens' final and unfinished novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood stands as one of literature's greatest enigmas, inviting endless speculation and debate. Blending gothic intrigue with sharp social critique, it showcases Dickens' mastery of suspense while reflecting Victorian anxieties about crime, addiction, and class tensions. Its abrupt ending has inspired generations of writers, scholars, and artists to imagine their own conclusions, making it a unique interactive puzzle in literary history. More than just a mystery, it is a testament to Dickens' evolving storytelling, leaving readers haunted by what might have been.
Illustrated Edition featuring Illustrations, Summary, Author Biography, and Character ListStep into the gripping world of mystery and suspense with The Mystery of Edwin Drood, one of Charles Dickens's most fascinating and unfinished works. Set in the misty streets of the fictional city of Cloisterham, this captivating novel follows the mysterious disappearance of Edwin Drood, a young man who vanishes without a trace, sparking a series of dark and disturbing events.In this illustrated edition, readers will enjoy not only the intricacies of Dickens's storytelling but also vivid illustrations that bring the story's atmosphere to life. The novel delves into themes of obsession, love, and betrayal, drawing readers into a plot filled with twists and turns, leaving the ultimate fate of the characters uncertain.Though Dickens tragically passed away before completing the novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood remains a timeless classic of the detective genre, prompting many interpretations and theories about its conclusion.This edition includes a comprehensive summary, a list of characters, and an insightful biography of Charles Dickens, offering deeper context to the story and its complex characters.A must-read for fans of classic literature, suspense, and those intrigued by Dickens's masterful exploration of the human psyche.
Memoir of Edwin Hubbell Chapin is an unchanged, high-quality reprint of the original edition of 1884. Hansebooks is editor of the literature on different topic areas such as research and science, travel and expeditions, cooking and nutrition, medicine, and other genres. As a publisher we focus on the preservation of historical literature. Many works of historical writers and scientists are available today as antiques only. Hansebooks newly publishes these books and contributes to the preservation of literature which has become rare and historical knowledge for the future.
LIfe and Art of Edwin Booth is an unchanged, high-quality reprint of the original edition of 1894. Hansebooks is editor of the literature on different topic areas such as research and science, travel and expeditions, cooking and nutrition, medicine, and other genres. As a publisher we focus on the preservation of historical literature. Many works of historical writers and scientists are available today as antiques only. Hansebooks newly publishes these books and contributes to the preservation of literature which has become rare and historical knowledge for the future.
The Life of Edwin Forrest is an unchanged, high-quality reprint of the original edition of 1874. Hansebooks is editor of the literature on different topic areas such as research and science, travel and expeditions, cooking and nutrition, medicine, and other genres. As a publisher we focus on the preservation of historical literature. Many works of historical writers and scientists are available today as antiques only. Hansebooks newly publishes these books and contributes to the preservation of literature which has become rare and historical knowledge for the future.
