About the book
On a chilly December morning in Bow, a working-class area in London's East End, a landlady unsuccessfully attempts to rouse a tenant whose door is locked and bolted from the inside. The alarmed landlady calls upon her neighbor, a retired Scotland Yard detective, who breaks down the door to reveal the tenant with his throat cut and no weapon in sight. \"It seems clear that the deceased did not commit suicide,\" the coroner declares at the inquest, adding, \"It seems equally clear that the deceased was not murdered.\"
So begins Israel Zangwill's darkly humorous mystery, which marked a turning point in detective fiction. Sealed-room mysteries had appeared before, but this inventive tale offered a novel exploitation of the genre's puzzling possibilities. The 1891 publication was serialized in the London Star, a tabloid notorious for its sensational coverage of the Jack the Ripper murders. Between installments, Zangwill engaged in a lively dialogue with his readers, who proposed solutions to the crime (none of them correct). As Publishers Weekly noted, \"With a sardonic style and vivid, Dickensian characterizations of Victorian-era London, Zangwill still appeals to contemporary readers.\"
Editions of Big Bow Mystery
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780486814858
- EBook
- ISBN 9780486824314
Read an Excerpt
On a chilly December morning in Bow, a working-class area in London's East End, a landlady unsuccessfully attempts to rouse a tenant whose door is locked and bolted from the inside. The alarmed landlady calls upon her neighbor, a retired Scotland Yard detective, who breaks down the door to reveal the tenant with his throat cut and no weapon in sight. \"It seems clear that the deceased did not commit suicide,\" the coroner declares at the inquest, adding, \"It seems equally clear that the deceased was not murdered.\"
So begins Israel Zangwill's darkly humorous mystery, which marked a turning point in detective fiction. Sealed-room mysteries had appeared before, but this inventive tale offered a novel exploitation of the genre's puzzling possibilities. The 1891 publication was serialized in the London Star, a tabloid notorious for its sensational coverage of the Jack the Ripper murders. Between installments, Zangwill engaged in a lively dialogue with his readers, who proposed solutions to the crime (none of them correct). As Publishers Weekly noted, \"With a sardonic style and vivid, Dickensian characterizations of Victorian-era London, Zangwill still appeals to contemporary readers.\"
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Big Bow Mystery about?
On a chilly December morning in Bow, a working-class area in London's East End, a landlady unsuccessfully attempts to rouse a tenant whose door is locked and bolted from the inside. The alarmed landlady calls upon her neighbor, a retired Scotland Yard detective, who breaks down the door to reveal the tenant with his throat cut and no weapon in sight. \"It seems clear that the deceased did not commit suicide,\" the coroner declares at the inquest, adding, \"It seems equally clear that the deceased was not murdered.\"
So begins Israel Zangwill's darkly humorous mystery, which marked a turning point in detective fiction. Sealed-room mysteries had appeared before, but this inventive tale offered a novel exploitation of the genre's puzzling possibilities. The 1891 publication was serialized in the London Star, a tabloid notorious for its sensational coverage of the Jack the Ripper murders. Between installments, Zangwill engaged in a lively dialogue with his readers, who proposed solutions to the crime (none of them correct). As Publishers Weekly noted, \"With a sardonic style and vivid, Dickensian characterizations of Victorian-era London, Zangwill still appeals to contemporary readers.\"
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Big Bow Mystery?
Fiction > Crime and / or mystery fiction > Historical crime and mysteries
Where can I read a sample of Big Bow Mystery?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780486814858
Is Big Bow Mystery part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Dover Mystery Classics
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Big Bow Mystery?
E. F. Bleiler, Israel Zangwill
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Big Bow Mystery is available as paperback(ISBN 9780486814858) and ebook(ISBN 9780486824314)
Where can I buy Big Bow Mystery online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Big Bow Mystery from below
Where can I buy Big Bow Mystery?