The Avenger

Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips), 1866-194Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 420K words
Chapters: 42

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.The Avenger by E. Phillips OppenheimAuthor: Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips), 1866-1946,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Feb 1, 2006

Editor's review

This is a typical early popular suspense novel. Oppenheim drives the narrative with tight plotting and mysteries of identity, drawing readers into a world full of probing, mistaken assumptions and reversals. Its pleasure lies chiefly in pacing and suspense rather than deep psychological portraiture; readers should focus on how clues are laid out, how information is withheld, and how characters choose under pressure. As a public-domain electronic text, it also offers a sample for observing the narrative conventions of early twentieth-century English popular fiction: how chapter endings create hooks, how dialogue carries the plot forward, and how villains and investigators generate tension. Read it as a genre novel with a clear period flavor, allowing certain devices their old-fashioned charm while noting how the author sustains suspense within limited scenes. It suits reading in short segments on a commute, and also serves as introductory material for studying suspense writing.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy classic suspense and detective stories
Readers curious about the narrative conventions of early twentieth-century English popular fiction
Readers who need short, segmented reading sessions and want steady plot momentum
Beginning writers interested in genre-fiction techniques

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting deep psychological portraiture and complex character growth
Readers sensitive to old-fashioned suspense devices and period limitations
Readers seeking modern forensic detail and rigorous deduction
Readers who prefer slow literary narration and dislike suspense hooks

Reading tips

Read chapter by chapter, using end-of-chapter suspense to keep momentum; there is no need to finish in one sitting.
Jot down identities and key clues to help distinguish misleading information from genuine foreshadowing.
After finishing, revisit the key turning points and observe how the author delays revelations and arranges misunderstandings.
For writing study, excerpt passages where dialogue advances the plot and analyze their function.

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

Is the deduction in this book rigorous?

It leans more toward popular suspense and adventure narrative, with emphasis on suspense, identity mysteries and plot reversals rather than modern rigorous deduction. Don't judge it by forensic standards; focus instead on how the author creates tension through delayed information, misunderstandings and dialogue.

Is it suitable as an introductory reference for suspense writing?

It works well for genre observation. Focus on how chapters close, how clues are released in stages, and how dialogue carries the plot forward. Its conventions bear the marks of their time, which makes it useful for distinguishing techniques that still work from those that now feel dated, and for forming your own writing judgment.

Is the English difficult?

Overall it is popular-fiction prose, with sentences that are not especially difficult, though some old-fashioned expressions and period usage may pose obstacles. Use the e-book's dictionary function, grasp the main plot first, and don't obsess over every unfamiliar word. For casual reading, keeping momentum matters more than word-by-word study.

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About the author

Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips), 1866-194 Author

E. Phillips Oppenheim (Edward Phillips Oppenheim, 1866–194) was a writer known for mystery and espionage fiction. Public information about him is limited, and the biographical details in our records are incomplete. The existing catalogue shows that he was a prolific author, with 61 of his works held on this site, including The Great Impersonation, The Double Traitor, The Governors, The Lost Ambassador, The Yellow House, and Stolen Idols. These works generally centre on disguise and false identity, political intrigue, detective pursuit, and adventure; their plots are tightly paced and full of suspense, and he was skilled at advancing the narrative through complex relationships among characters. His works are often classified under inspirational growth, reflecting readers' interest in the choices and turning points of fate faced by his characters.