A Difficult Problem

Green, Anna Katharine, 1846-1935Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.3

Word count: 43K words
Chapters: 5

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.A Difficult Problem by Anna Katharine GreenAuthor: Green, Anna Katharine, 1846-1935,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Sep 29, 2007

Editor's review

Anna Katharine Green was an important early pioneer of American detective fiction, and A Difficult Problem continues in the vein she mastered: a baffling case at the center, suspicions layered one upon another, and a reader whose judgment keeps shifting as the investigation proceeds. The work has the classic flavor of Golden Age detection—clues, logic, and the gradual revelation of motive matter more than speed—and while the pace is unhurried, the suspense is solidly built for readers who like to think. As an older public-domain work, its language and narrative manner bear the marks of their time, giving it the steady feel of old-fashioned detective fiction. For anyone curious about the early face of English-language detective fiction, or wanting a short mystery as an entry point to Green, this book is a light but representative introduction. Keep track of characters and suspicious details as you read, and the pleasure of classical detection comes through; those expecting a fast modern thriller should adjust their expectations.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Mystery readers who enjoy classical detection and following clues
Literature lovers curious about the early face of English detective fiction
Advanced learners looking for short mysteries as English extensive reading material
Readers interested in the work of a pioneering woman detective novelist

Not a good fit for

Readers of modern thrillers who prefer fast pacing and strong action
Readers impatient with old-fashioned English narrative and slow buildup
Hardcore detection fans expecting rigorous modern forensic detail

Reading tips

Jot down character relationships and suspicious details as you go; at key points, form your own guess before reading on.
Read the original English in two passes: first for plot, then again for foreshadowing and clue placement.
If the opening feels slow, read to the cliffhanger at the end of a chapter first, then go back and read closely.
After finishing, compare it with detective fiction of the same era to see the structural features of early detection.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

I haven't read any other Green; can I start with this one?

Yes. It is a self-contained mystery that does not depend on characters from earlier books. If you like her narrative style, seek out her better-known full-length detective novels to better appreciate her place in the history of early detection.

Is the detection in this book difficult?

It is of moderate difficulty for classical detection, focusing on the gradual revelation of clues and motives rather than a pileup of complex tricks. If you pay attention to character relationships and details that seem incidental, most readers can follow the reasoning. Those used to modern high-density twists may find the pace slow.

What if the original English is hard going?

Start with the plot progression and dialogue in each chapter; you need not look up every proper name or archaic expression. Read in two passes: first for suspense, then for foreshadowing. If it is still difficult, read a Chinese summary first to grasp the framework, then return to the original for its narrative rhythm.

Is it suitable as an introduction to detective fiction?

It works as one introduction to classical detection, especially for those wanting to know early women writers of English detective fiction. But it carries the language and pacing of an older work; readers more used to fast modern suspense might start with shorter, tighter classical stories as a bridge.

Comments

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About the author

Green, Anna Katharine, 1846-1935 Author

Anna Katharine Green (1846–1935) was an important early American writer of detective fiction. Public information about her is limited, and few biographical details are recorded in the collection, but the 39 works held here show that she devoted herself to mystery and suspense writing over a long career. Representative works such as The Leavenworth Case, Agatha Webb, The Forsaken Inn: A Novel, The Golden Slipper, and Other Problems for Violet Strange, Hand and Ring, That Affair Next Door, The Chief Legatee, and The Filigree Ball center on criminal investigation and are notable for their careful plotting, tightly structured puzzles, and intricate relationships among characters. Her style emphasizes logical deduction and detailed description, giving her a recognized place in the development of early detective fiction and helping pave the way for later women writers of mystery fiction.