Behind the bronze door

"Behind the Bronze Door" by William Le Queux is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story unfolds in post-war London, where a series of mysterious tragedies befall high society individuals, including suicides and inexplicable deaths, creating a climate of suspense and curiosity. The central character, Mrs. Cora Hartsilver, grapples with the aftermath of her husband's death by suicide and her complicated emotional ties to a prominent figure involved in the recent societal tragedies. The opening of the novel introduces a tense atmosphere as Cora and her husband, Henry Hartsilver, discuss the latest society tragedy reported in the newspaper—the death of a well-known baronet. Henry exhibits a cold and dismissive attitude towards the tragedies that plague high society, while Cora, who has a personal connection to one of the victims, feels deeply affected. This emotional divergence sets the stage for potential conflict and exploration of themes surrounding love, loss, and the moral dilemmas faced by the characters in the midst of a mystery that intertwines their lives with the dark underbelly of their social circle. As the narrative progresses, it hints at evolving relationships and hidden secrets that will likely unravel as the story unfolds. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

William Tufnell Le Queux was an Anglo-French journalist and writer. He was also a diplomat, a traveller, a flying buff who officiated at the first British air meeting at Doncaster in 1909, and a wireless pioneer who broadcast music from his own station long before radio was generally available; his claims regarding his own abilities and exploits, however, were usually exaggerated. His best-known works are the anti-French and anti-Russian invasion fantasy The Great War in England in 1897 (1894) and the anti-German invasion fantasy The Invasion of 1910 (1906), the latter becoming a bestseller.