The Chief Legatee [microform]

by Anna Katharine Green

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Genres: Mystery, Classics, Historical

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1906

About the author

Anna Katharine Green (1846-1935) was an American poet and novelist. She was one of the first writers of detective fiction in America and distinguished herself by writing well plotted, legally accurate stories. Born in Brooklyn, New York, her early ambition was to write romantic verse, and she corresponded with Ralph Waldo Emerson. When her poetry failed to gain recognition, she produced her first and best known novel, The Leavenworth Case (1878). She became a bestselling author, eventually publishing about 40 books. She was in some ways a progressive woman for her time-succeeding in a genre dominated by male writers-but she did not approve of many of her feminist contemporaries, and she was opposed to women's suffrage. Her other works include A Strange Disappearance (1880), The Affair Next Door (1897), The Circular Study (1902), The Filigree Ball (1903), The Millionaire Baby (1905), The House in the Mist (1905), The Woman in the Alcove (1906), The House of the Whispering Pines (1910), Initials Only (1912), and The Mystery of the Hasty Arrow (1917).

Reviews

[Lee Bertsch · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fine tale.

[Guillemette Allard-Bares · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty enjoyable Anna Katharine Green book, that kept me hooked pretty constantly all throughout. The plot is quite good and the twists keep the reader invested. A very nice read!

[Daniy ♠ · Rating 1 out of 5]

The worst one by AKG
I actually dnf it before but its so short and I usually like them so I just power trough

[Lori Killion · Rating 2 out of 5]

The ending made no sense to me. While the reason behind everything is supposed to be an important one AKG didn't explain why. I can't be clearer as I don't want to spoil things in case you decide to listen to this. It's almost as if AKG couldn't think of a decent ending so she wrote what she did but then was either bored or disappointed with her ending so she decided not to go into any real details about it. 2 stars is a generous rating.

[Katja Labonté · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars & 3/10 hearts. I enjoyed this story. It was somewhat humorous and very perplexing, and kept me hooked until the very last pages. There was one instance of mild language (good God) that I can remember; also a rather disgusting description of a drowned body. Anitra’s character was superb, and I really like Ransome & the lawyer. Hazen, though, was really terrible and I hated the whole issue at the bottom of the mystery... what an awful, merciless man!

A Favourite Quote: “...the peculiarities of their history since their unfortunate wedding-day were laid bare [in the newspapers] with but little consideration for his feelings or the good name of his bride.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘He would ... sit in the window. If questioned he would say that he was engaged in deciding how he would end the story he was writing; that such contemplation called for darkness but above all for good air; that had the weather been favorable he would have obtained the latter by opening the window; but it being so bad he could only open the door. Certain eccentricities are allowable in authors.”

[Cindy B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot is ok but a distasteful end. Lawyers should be smarter. Long (like a lot of the plots of the era). Well narrated by Tony Oliva.