Amusement Only

"Amusement Only" by Richard Marsh is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story opens with a gripping and peculiar incident involving the Duke of Datchet and the apparent kidnapping of his wife, the Duchess. This dramatic series of events is characterized by a sense of mystery and urgency, as the Duke attempts to navigate a bizarre situation in which his wife's identity is undermined by the actions of an unknown assailant. The opening of the novel introduces readers to a frantic Duke as he learns that the carriage meant to bring his wife home is empty, despite their servants insisting that she had entered it. Soon after, the Duke receives a threatening letter demanding a ransom for the Duchess's safe return, along with a lock of her hair as proof of her abduction. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that the Duke's world is turned upside down by this extraordinary turn of events, blending elements of suspense and dark humor. Through vivid characterizations and engaging dialogue, Marsh sets the stage for a tale that promises bewildering twists and complexities as the characters grapple with the unfolding mystery. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Richard Marsh was the pseudonym of the English author born Richard Bernard Heldmann. A best-selling and prolific author of the late 19th century and the Edwardian period, Marsh is best known now for his supernatural thriller novel The Beetle, which was published the same year as Bram Stoker's Dracula (1897), and was initially even more popular, outselling Dracula six times over. The Beetle remained in print until 1960. Marsh produced nearly 80 volumes of fiction and numerous short stories, in genres including horror, crime, romance and humour. Many of these have been republished recently, beginning with The Beetle in 2004. Marsh's grandson Robert Aickman was a notable writer of short "strange stories".