The Lock and Key Library: Classic Mystery and Detective Stories

by Julian Hawthorne, Rudyard Kipling, Arthur Conan Doyle, Egerton Castle, Stanley J. Weyman

Overview

Originally published in 1909, The Lock and Key Library is a collection of mystery and detective stories that will leave readers rapt at every turn. Featuring classic works from renowned authors such as Arthur Conan Doyle and Rudyard Kipling, these ageless tales encompass a wide array of topics. From sleuths doggedly following the trail of an elusive thief, to detectives seeking the truth behind heinous murders, or even forays into the realm of the supernatural, each story is certain keep you guessing until the very last page.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780722359761
Publisher:	Andrews UK
Publication date:	04/17/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	789 KB

About the Author

Julian Hawthorne (1846–1934) was an American author, journalist, and editor, best known as the son of the renowned novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne. Born in Boston and raised partly in Europe during his father's diplomatic posting in England, Julian inherited a literary sensibility shaped by both American Romanticism and the European tradition of moral and psychological inquiry.

Educated at Harvard and trained briefly as a civil engineer, Julian eventually turned to literature, producing a prolific body of work that included novels, short stories, essays, and biographies. His fiction often dealt with themes of crime, conscience, and the supernatural, echoing the gothic tones of his father’s writing but filtered through a more sensational, plot-driven lens. Despite some early critical success, he never achieved the lasting literary stature of his father.

As editor of The Lock and Key Library series, Julian Hawthorne brought together mystery and detective stories from both English and continental traditions. His role was not merely curatorial but interpretive: he aimed to frame these tales as culturally significant, deserving of both popular and scholarly attention. His introductions and selections reveal a deep interest in psychological nuance, moral ambiguity, and the mechanics of suspense.

However, Hawthorne’s later life was marred by scandal. In 1913, he was convicted of mail fraud related to a mining promotion scheme and served time in prison—an irony not lost on those familiar with his editorial focus on crime and justice. After his release, he continued to write and reflect on his experiences, producing memoirs and essays until his death.

Though his literary reputation has faded, Julian Hawthorne remains a figure of interest in American literary history—not only as a link to Nathaniel Hawthorne’s legacy, but as a writer and editor who sought to elevate genre fiction during a transformative era in Anglo-American letters. His work on The Lock and Key Library offers a valuable window into both the tastes and tensions of turn-of-the-century popular literature.