Early American Detective Stories

Although the classic tales of mystery have faded from popular culture, avid collectors and cataloguers have ensured their place in the annals of literature. This anthology offers readers an exemplary sample of the hundreds of detective stories published in 19th century newspapers and magazines. All but two are stories published before 1891, before Sherlock Holmes appeared in America. The stories are categorized according to common motifs, including the largely unexplored field of women in late 19th century detection. Revealing cultural intricacies that other kinds of fiction cannot, the literature presented here provides new insights into the history of the detective story.