The Emperor's Snuff-Box

Last updated
The Emperor's Snuff-Box
EmperorsSnuffBox.jpg
First edition (US)
Author John Dickson Carr
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Genre Mystery, Detective novel
Publisher Harper (US)
Hamish Hamilton (UK)
Publication date
1942 (US), 1943 (UK)
Media typePrint (Hardback & Paperback)

The Emperor's Snuff-Box is a non-series mystery novel (1942) by mystery novelist John Dickson Carr. [1] The detective is psychologist Dr. Dermot Kinross.

The novel takes place in France and concerns a jeweled snuff-box in the shape of a pocket watch said to have belonged to Napoleon. A pretty young Englishwoman living in France forms a romantic attachment and becomes a suspect in the murder of her fiancé's father; the theft of a valuable necklace and the smashing of the snuff-box are also mysteries to be solved. The novel served as the basis for the 1957 film That Woman Opposite , for which Compton Bennett wrote the screenplay.

It is considered one of Carr's great novels and is considered the best among the best mystery plots with no locked room murders, impossible crimes, or supernatural elements.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Dickson Carr</span> American mystery novelist and playwright (1906–1977)

John Dickson Carr was an American author of detective stories, who also published using the pseudonyms Carter Dickson, Carr Dickson, and Roger Fairbairn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Locked-room mystery</span> Subgenre of detective fiction

The "locked-room" or "impossible crime" mystery is a type of crime seen in crime and detective fiction. The crime in question, typically murder, is committed in circumstances under which it appeared impossible for the perpetrator to enter the crime scene, commit the crime, and leave undetected. The crime in question typically involves a situation whereby an intruder could not have left; for example the original literal "locked room": a murder victim found in a windowless room locked from the inside at the time of discovery. Following other conventions of classic detective fiction, the reader is normally presented with the puzzle and all of the clues, and is encouraged to solve the mystery before the solution is revealed in a dramatic climax.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gideon Fell</span> Fictional English amateur detective

Dr Gideon Fell is a fictional character created by John Dickson Carr. He is the protagonist of 23 mystery novels from 1933 through 1967, as well as a few short stories. Carr was an American who lived most of his adult life in England; Dr. Fell is an Englishman who lives in the London suburbs.

Sir Henry Merrivale is a fictional amateur detective created by "Carter Dickson", a pen name of John Dickson Carr (1906–1977). Also known as "the Old Man," by his initials "H. M.", or "the Maestro", Merrivale appears in 22 of Carr's locked-room mysteries and "impossible crime" novels of the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, as well as in two short stories.

<i>He Who Whispers</i> 1946 novel by John Dickson Carr

He Who Whispers is a mystery novel (1946) by John Dickson Carr. Like many of the works by Carr, the book features a so-called "impossible crime". For the most part, such crimes fall into the category of locked room mysteries. In this case, the novel falls into a smaller sub-category of Carr's work in that it is suggested that the "impossible" crime is the work of a supernatural being. Dr. Gideon Fell is featured as the detective. Carr considered this one of his best novels.

<i>The Judas Window</i> 1938 novel by John Dickson Carr

The Judas Window is a famous locked room mystery novel by the American writer John Dickson Carr, writing under the name of Carter Dickson, published in 1938 and featuring detective Sir Henry Merrivale.

<i>The Ten Teacups</i> 1937 novel by John Dickson Carr

The Ten Teacups, is a locked room mystery by American mystery writer John Dickson Carr, writing as Carter Dickson. It features the series detective Sir Henry Merrivale, working with Scotland Yard's Chief Inspector Humphrey Masters.

<i>The Bowstring Murders</i> 1933 novel by John Dickson Carr

The Bowstring Murders is a mystery novel by the American writer John Dickson Carr (1906–1977), who wrote it under the name of Carr Dickson. It is a whodunit and also his only novel with the alcoholic detective John Gaunt.

<i>The Red Widow Murders</i> 1925 novel by John Dickson Carr

The Red Widow Murders is a mystery novel by the American writer John Dickson Carr (1906–1977), who published it under the name of Carter Dickson. It is a locked room mystery and features his series detective, Sir Henry Merrivale.

<i>The Unicorn Murders</i> 1935 novel by John Dickson Carr

The Unicorn Murders is a mystery novel by the American writer John Dickson Carr (1906–1977), who published it under the name of Carter Dickson. It is a locked room mystery and features his series detective, Sir Henry Merrivale.

<i>Drop to His Death</i> 1939 novel by John Dickson Carr

Drop To His Death is a mystery novel by the American writer John Dickson Carr, who published it under the name of Carter Dickson, in collaboration with John Rhode. It is a locked room mystery.

<i>And So to Murder</i> 1940 novel by John Dickson Carr

And So to Murder is a mystery novel by the American writer John Dickson Carr, who published it under the name of Carter Dickson. It is a whodunnit and features the series detective Sir Henry Merrivale and Scotland Yard Chief Inspector Humphrey Masters.

<i>The Curse of the Bronze Lamp</i> Mystery novel by John Dickson Carr

The Curse of the Bronze Lamp is a mystery novel by the American writer John Dickson Carr, who published it under the name of Carter Dickson. It is a locked room mystery or, more properly, a subset of that category known as an "impossible crime", and features the series detective Sir Henry Merrivale. Carr considered this one of his best impossible crime novels.

<i>The Nine Wrong Answers</i> 1952 novel by John Dickson Carr

The Nine Wrong Answers, first published in 1952, is a detective story by John Dickson Carr which does not feature any of his series detectives. It is an expansion of Carr's 1942 radio play "Will You Make A Bet With Death".

<i>The Bride of Newgate</i> 1950 novel by John Dickson Carr

The Bride of Newgate, first published in 1950, is a historical whodunnit novel by American writer John Dickson Carr, which does not feature any of Carr's series detectives. Set in England in 1815, the book combines two literary genres, historical fiction and the whodunit/detective story and is "one of the earliest historical mystery novels."

<i>Till Death Do Us Part</i> (Carr novel) 1944 novel by John Dickson Carr

Till Death Do Us Part, first published in 1944, is a detective story by John Dickson Carr featuring his series detective Gideon Fell. This novel is a mystery of the type known as a locked room mystery. Carr considered this one of his best impossible crime novels.

<i>The Devil in Velvet</i> 1951 mystery novel by John Dickson Carr

The Devil in Velvet, first published in 1951, is a detective story by American writer John Dickson Carr. This novel is both a mystery and a historical novel, with elements of the supernatural.

<i>Fire, Burn!</i> Novel by John Dickson Carr

Fire, Burn! is a historical mystery novel by John Dickson Carr. It is about a police officer who is transported back in time to 1829 when the British police was first formed. Carr considered this one of his best impossible crime novels.

<i>That Woman Opposite</i> 1957 British film

That Woman Opposite is a 1957 British crime drama, directed by Compton Bennett and starring Phyllis Kirk, Dan O'Herlihy and William Franklyn. The screenplay, also by Bennett, was adapted from John Dickson Carr's 1942 novel The Emperor's Snuff-Box.

Death-Watch, first published in April 1935, is a detective story by American writer John Dickson Carr, featuring his series detective Gideon Fell. It is a mystery novel of the whodunnit type.

References

  1. Joshi, S. T. (1990). John Dickson Carr: A Critical Study. Bowling Green State University Popular Press. pp. 55–59. ISBN   978-0-87972-477-1.