His Unknown Wife

"His Unknown Wife" by Louis Tracy is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around Philip Alexander Maseden, a man facing execution in a South American prison, who is suddenly presented with a bizarre opportunity to marry an unknown woman before his imminent death. The narrative promises themes of romance, intrigue, and adventure as Maseden navigates a precarious situation, contemplating the motives of his mysterious bride and the escalating chaos in the political landscape around him. At the start of the story, we meet Maseden, a prisoner slated for execution, who is visited by a financier, Steinbaum. In a twist of fate, Steinbaum reveals that a lady wishes to marry him, leading to a hasty and unconventional wedding ceremony just minutes before his sentence is to be carried out. Maseden, characterized by his defiance and humor, surprisingly agrees to the marriage despite not knowing the woman, intrigued by her motives and the absurdity of the situation. He learns she is American, veiled, and awaiting him in the hall, igniting a mix of curiosity and urgency as he prepares for the strange union with the backdrop of an imminent firing squad. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Louis Tracy (1863–1928) was a British journalist, and prolific writer of fiction. He used the pseudonyms Gordon Holmes and Robert Fraser, which were at times shared with M. P. Shiel, a collaborator from the start of the twentieth century.