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The Red Lady
This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other reproduction issues beyond our control. Because this work is culturally important, we have made it available as a part of our commitment to protecting, preserving and promoting the world's literature.
159 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1920
12 people want to read
About the author
Katharine Newlin Burt
42 books2 followersKatharine Burt married writer Maxwell Struthers Burt in 1912.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
With him, she homesteaded the Bar BC Ranch near Moose, Wyoming. She lived in Jackson Hole most of her life, spending summers there after her retirement to Southern Pines, North Carolina.
She was the mother of writer Nathaniel Burt. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
With him, she homesteaded the Bar BC Ranch near Moose, Wyoming. She lived in Jackson Hole most of her life, spending summers there after her retirement to Southern Pines, North Carolina.
She was the mother of writer Nathaniel Burt. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 18, 2020
Hidden treasure, ghastly ghosts and a doppelganger who kisses her man. There’s a lot going on in this 100-year-old gothic!
Katharine Newlin Burt was a pop novelist whose bibliography of westerns, mystery and romance spans from 1912 to 1975, when she was well into her 90s. The Red Lady originally appeared in 1920, but the writing style feels as mainstream as more modern gothics. No surprise it was dusted off in the ‘70s when publishers ran out of new spooky books to print.
Burt was ahead of her time with a satisfying romance element, eerie atmosphere and solid mystery. There’s even dialogue suggesting a movie might be made of the protagonist’s adventure. A forward-thinking reference that shows she really had a pulse on pop culture and current trends. As it turns out, The Red Lady never became a film, but 9 of her other books were adapted for the movies in the 1920s.
It’s a lean book that doesn’t waste time getting into the mystery. Surprisingly feministic as well. Gothics of the ‘60s and ‘70s often star naïve women who comically fail to connect the dots of all the clues laid in front of them. Burt’s heroine, however, is pragmatic. She confronts the doppelganger and astral projection issues head on, conducting experiments to solve the mystery (and murder) with precision and impressive time management.
Though the calculating heroine is refreshing, I understand why it’s rare to see one this efficient. Her practicality leaves no time for the imaginative supernatural elements to run wild. The sizzle of the mystery goes cold just as fast as it heats up.
In its climax, the momentum of the story really slows to a crawl during what must be the longest villain confessional on record. While our heroine is tied up, the villain spends at least 50 pages of uninterrupted dialogue clarifying exactly how and why it was all done. The speech doesn’t just resolve the mystery, it is a detailed report of every microscopic action taken. Mysteries you didn’t even know were mysteries are explained via this dissertation. I began to feel sorry for the evil person and wanted to offer a glass of water after such a lengthy presentation.
Despite some weaker moments, however, there’s plenty of adventure and surprise to keep the story interesting from beginning to end. The writing style is breezy and fresh, which is rare for the 1920s. Burt clearly writes for entertainment over posterity, and the irony is that this makes her more accessible to future generations than other authors whose elevated style can be arduous.
Katharine Newlin Burt was a pop novelist whose bibliography of westerns, mystery and romance spans from 1912 to 1975, when she was well into her 90s. The Red Lady originally appeared in 1920, but the writing style feels as mainstream as more modern gothics. No surprise it was dusted off in the ‘70s when publishers ran out of new spooky books to print.
Burt was ahead of her time with a satisfying romance element, eerie atmosphere and solid mystery. There’s even dialogue suggesting a movie might be made of the protagonist’s adventure. A forward-thinking reference that shows she really had a pulse on pop culture and current trends. As it turns out, The Red Lady never became a film, but 9 of her other books were adapted for the movies in the 1920s.
It’s a lean book that doesn’t waste time getting into the mystery. Surprisingly feministic as well. Gothics of the ‘60s and ‘70s often star naïve women who comically fail to connect the dots of all the clues laid in front of them. Burt’s heroine, however, is pragmatic. She confronts the doppelganger and astral projection issues head on, conducting experiments to solve the mystery (and murder) with precision and impressive time management.
Though the calculating heroine is refreshing, I understand why it’s rare to see one this efficient. Her practicality leaves no time for the imaginative supernatural elements to run wild. The sizzle of the mystery goes cold just as fast as it heats up.
In its climax, the momentum of the story really slows to a crawl during what must be the longest villain confessional on record. While our heroine is tied up, the villain spends at least 50 pages of uninterrupted dialogue clarifying exactly how and why it was all done. The speech doesn’t just resolve the mystery, it is a detailed report of every microscopic action taken. Mysteries you didn’t even know were mysteries are explained via this dissertation. I began to feel sorry for the evil person and wanted to offer a glass of water after such a lengthy presentation.
Despite some weaker moments, however, there’s plenty of adventure and surprise to keep the story interesting from beginning to end. The writing style is breezy and fresh, which is rare for the 1920s. Burt clearly writes for entertainment over posterity, and the irony is that this makes her more accessible to future generations than other authors whose elevated style can be arduous.
January 23, 2025
This book operationalizes the "old-fashioned woman" as someone who is capable of any act of heroism yet feels perpetually unsafe without a man. Not much has changed between 1920 and 2025.
If you're HALF as obsessed with The Turn of the Screw as I am, I think you'll enjoy this little gem:)
If you're HALF as obsessed with The Turn of the Screw as I am, I think you'll enjoy this little gem:)
January 18, 2016
The Red Lady is a classic short story that was written almost 100 years ago by Katharine Newline Burt. This book is written in a gothic first-person style with mysterious apparitions, strange events, and even a suspicious death. And its language and dialog is very similar to what a reader might find today in another book in this genre.
The story revolves around Janice Gale who is a new housekeeper at a country estate in the Southern United States (I pictured South Carolina while I was listening). After most of the house staff quit after repeatedly seeing ghosts, Janice becomes suspicious of the “ghost” and begins an investigation into the strange happenings around the manor house. It turns out this “ghost” is searching for lost Russian jewels. To complicate matters, Janice falls for one of the houseguests, who believes she has a split personality disorder because the ghost looks just like her!
I listened to the Audible version of this audiobook narrated by Daniela Acitelli who did an admirable job. I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest unbiased review.
The story revolves around Janice Gale who is a new housekeeper at a country estate in the Southern United States (I pictured South Carolina while I was listening). After most of the house staff quit after repeatedly seeing ghosts, Janice becomes suspicious of the “ghost” and begins an investigation into the strange happenings around the manor house. It turns out this “ghost” is searching for lost Russian jewels. To complicate matters, Janice falls for one of the houseguests, who believes she has a split personality disorder because the ghost looks just like her!
I listened to the Audible version of this audiobook narrated by Daniela Acitelli who did an admirable job. I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest unbiased review.
September 2, 2018
Janice Gale is hired as a housekeeper to Mrs Brane and her son Robbie under suspicious circumstances. The boy is frightened of her red hair, then scared by the vision of a redheaded woman glaring down at him in bed. Janice becomes distrusted, despite being asleep.
Is she a sleepwalker? Is there a ghost? Is she going mad? Or is it something all together more melodramatic and frankly stupifying?
Poor Janice! The meagre resources of the author's talent rendered her heroine something of a ninny in thought and deed. She did manage to puzzle things out fairly swiftly, despite how ridiculous it all was.
Then things went from being merely ridiculous to sublimely ridiculous.
Clumsy plotting (the type where important clues are dropped on the floor at convenient moments), a romance conducted on inane emotional terms, and the mother of all "I did it like this..." monologues at the end by the gloating villainess.
Apparently Newlin Burt wrote - and sold - dozens of these demented melodramas.
Funny old world.
Is she a sleepwalker? Is there a ghost? Is she going mad? Or is it something all together more melodramatic and frankly stupifying?
Poor Janice! The meagre resources of the author's talent rendered her heroine something of a ninny in thought and deed. She did manage to puzzle things out fairly swiftly, despite how ridiculous it all was.
Then things went from being merely ridiculous to sublimely ridiculous.
Clumsy plotting (the type where important clues are dropped on the floor at convenient moments), a romance conducted on inane emotional terms, and the mother of all "I did it like this..." monologues at the end by the gloating villainess.
Apparently Newlin Burt wrote - and sold - dozens of these demented melodramas.
Funny old world.
February 11, 2016
I listened to the Audible audio version of this book.
"A Good Suspenseful Tale Brought Back From the 20s"
THE RED LADY was a good, suspenseful book completely refreshed with terrific audio. The story was intriguing and a page turner. It was twisty with a good plot. Katharine Newlin Burt penned many stories including Snow Blind. I hope more of this author's work is presented in audio format. I love her writing.
Daniela Acitelli did a fantastic job putting her voice to this book. She's a wonderful voice actor and has perfect voice inflections. Her tone and pace added an extra feel of suspense that I especially enjoyed. An overall great story.
"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast."
January 23, 2016
Told in first person.
Aspects of the plot would not fly today (housekeeper, treatment of laborers), but the basics of plotline and characterization are timeless. Listener is kept in suspense over the reasoning for happenings, as well as determining who are good guys vs bad guys. Denouement is startling and most unexpected!
Ms. Acitelli brings it all to life! She is able to differentiate characters well, and portray their emotions clearly.
This book was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review
Aspects of the plot would not fly today (housekeeper, treatment of laborers), but the basics of plotline and characterization are timeless. Listener is kept in suspense over the reasoning for happenings, as well as determining who are good guys vs bad guys. Denouement is startling and most unexpected!
Ms. Acitelli brings it all to life! She is able to differentiate characters well, and portray their emotions clearly.
This book was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review
January 13, 2017
Considering that this book was written in the 1920's,I will cut it some slack on the stereotypical black slaves.I can't do the same for Daniela Acitellis performnace of the stereotypical slaves and the Russian man.They were horrendous.The story was a semi good one,but drawn out a bit too long.I was given this book free by the author,narrator or publisher.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews