See also: #12144

Release date is 1998-12-01

ALEXANDER SERGEIEVITCH PUSHKIN
The Queen of Spades
VERA JELIHOVSKY
The General's Will
FEODOR MIKHAILOVITCH DOSTOYEVSKY
Crime and Punishment
ANTON CHEKHOFF
The Safety Match
VSEVOLOD VLADIMIROVITCH KRESTOVSKI
Knights of Industry
JORGEN WILHELM BERGSOE
The Amputated Arms
OTTO LARSSEN
The Manuscript
BERNHARD SEVERIN INGEMANN
The Sealed Room
STEEN STEENSEN BLICHER
The Rector of Veilbye
HUNGARIAN MYSTERY STORIES
FERENCZ MOLNAR
The Living Death
MAURUS JOKAI
Thirteen at Table
ETIENNE BARSONY
The Dancing Bear
ARTHUR ELCK
The Tower Room

This etext was prepared by Donald Lainson

"The Lock and Key Library: The Most Interesting Stories of All Nations: North…" edited by Julian Hawthorne is a collection of short stories written in the late 19th century. This anthology primarily showcases notable works from various European authors, immersing readers in tales filled with intrigue, mystery, and moral dilemmas, while reflecting cultural elements from the respective countries represented. The opening portion introduces several captivating stories, including Alexander Pushkin's "The Queen of Spades," which sets the tone for the collection. In this story, we witness a card party where guests exchange tales, ultimately leading to discussions surrounding the enigmatic Countess who holds a secret about winning cards. Hermann, a young engineer, becomes obsessed with uncovering this secret to secure wealth, but as we see, his desire leads him down a dark path of greed and desperation. This initial glimpse foreshadows the thematic exploration of ambition, morality, and the human psyche that permeates the stories within the anthology. The narrative intricately intertwines the characters' lives, setting the stage for unexpected consequences and profound revelations as the collection unfolds. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

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