Release date is 2000-01-01

By the Waters of Paradise, by F. Marion Crawford
The Shadows on the Wall, by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
The Corpus Delicti, by Melville D. Post
An Heiress from Redhorse, by Ambrose Bierce
The Man and the Snake, by Ambrose Bierce
The Oblong Box, by Edgar Allan Poe
The Gold-Bug, by Edgar Allan Poe
Wolfert Webber, or Golden Dreams, by Washington Irving
Adventure of the Black Fisherman, by Washington Irving
Wieland's Madness, by Charles Brockden Brown
The Golden Ingot, by Fitzjames O'Brien
My Wife's Tempter, by Fitzjames O'Brien
The Minister's Black Veil, by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Horror: A True Tale, by Anonymous

"The Lock and Key Library: The most interesting stories of all nations: American" edited by Julian Hawthorne is a collection of intriguing riddle and detective stories compiled in the late 19th century. The anthology features notable authors such as Edgar Allan Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne, showcasing narratives that revolve around mysteries, puzzles, and moral complexities, emphasizing the nature of human behavior within these contexts. The opening of the collection begins with an introduction by Julian Hawthorne, who explores the evolution and structure of riddle stories. He discusses important elements such as the role of the detective and the art of suspense designed to engage the reader. Following this, the first narrative, "By the Waters of Paradise" by F. Marion Crawford, introduces a melancholic protagonist who grapples with the specters of his past and a perceived family curse, setting a tone of Gothic romanticism. The character's experiences within a grand yet gloomy castle backdrop evoke themes of nostalgia, loss, and an eerie connection to a mysterious female figure. The ground is laid for a series of tales that promise to delve into psychological intricacies and the supernatural elements intertwined within mystery tales. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Original publication data not identified