The Brass Bowl (novel)

The Brass Bowl

Title page for The Brass Bowl (1907)
Author	Louis Joseph Vance
Illustrator	Orson Lowell
Language	English
Genre	Mystery, Thriller, Romance
Publisher	Bobbs-Merrill Company
Publication date	1907
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (Hardcover)

The Brass Bowl is a 1907 mystery and romance novel by the American author Louis Joseph Vance. It was one of Vance's earliest successes, published before he achieved lasting fame with his "Lone Wolf" series. The novel was a major commercial success, appearing on the annual list of best-selling novels in the United States for 1907. ^[1]

The story is a fast-paced "comedy of errors" thriller involving a case of mistaken identity between a wealthy bachelor and a notorious jewel thief, set against the backdrop of New York City and a country estate.

Plot summary

Dan Maitland is a wealthy, young New York bachelor, nicknamed "Mad Maitland" for his adventurous college days, though he has since become bored with society life. Returning to his apartment late one night, he discovers a strange intruder: a beautiful young woman who has left a handprint in the dust on his mahogany desk. To protect her from discovery by his valet, Maitland impulsively covers the handprint with an overturned brass bowl—the titular object of the novel.

Maitland soon learns that the woman is Sylvia Danbury, the daughter of his own lawyer. She has broken into his apartment believing it contains evidence that could ruin her father. Furthermore, Maitland discovers that he bears an uncanny physical resemblance to "Mad" Dan Anisty, a notorious jewel thief and safecracker who is currently wanted by the police.

Taking advantage of this resemblance, Maitland poses as Anisty to help Sylvia and protect the family jewels at his country estate in Connecticut. However, the real Dan Anisty also arrives at the estate, intending to steal the very gems Maitland is guarding.

The plot devolves into a complex game of cat-and-mouse involving the two lookalikes, the police, and Sylvia. Maitland must maintain his masquerade while fighting off the real thief. The climax involves a desperate struggle in an elevator shaft and a high-speed chase. Ultimately, Maitland defeats his doppelgänger, clears up the misunderstandings with the police, and wins Sylvia's hand. ^[2]

Characters

• Dan Maitland: The protagonist; a wealthy young man who seeks adventure and falls in love with Sylvia.
• "Mad" Dan Anisty: The antagonist; a professional thief who is Maitland's physical double.
• Sylvia Danbury: The heroine ("The Girl in Grey") who mistakes Maitland for the thief Anisty but eventually falls for him.
• Detective Hickey: A police detective pursuing Anisty.
• Bannerman: Maitland's lawyer and Sylvia's father.

Themes

The novel explores the "double" (doppelgänger) motif, a common trope in early 20th-century sensational fiction. Unlike the darker psychological exploration of doubles in literature (such as in Dostoevsky or Conrad), Vance uses the device for comedic and suspenseful effect, focusing on the mechanical plot complications arising from the mistaken identity.

Reception

Upon its release, *The Brass Bowl* was well received as an engaging piece of escapist fiction. It cemented Vance's reputation as a writer of "kinetic" melodramas. The *New York Times* and other contemporaries praised its breathless pace and the cleverness of its plotting.

Adaptations

The novel was adapted into films twice:

• The Brass Bowl (1924): A silent film directed by Jerome Storm for Fox Film Corporation, starring Edmund Lowe in the dual role of Maitland and Anisty. ^[3]
• Masquerade (1929): An early sound film (talkie) also produced by Fox, starring Alan Birmingham in the dual role.

References

1. "The Bookman's Letter Box". The Bookman . 26. New York: Dodd, Mead and Company. 1908.
2. Vance, Louis Joseph. "The Brass Bowl". Project Gutenberg. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
3. "The Brass Bowl (1924)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved 20 December 2025.