
Rain drifts through a London fog, coating the city in a leaden veil as a quiet library awakens to the soft click of a butler’s steps. Inside, Dr. Morton Sims receives an unexpected parcel—a mysterious book of poems that seems to pulse with hidden meaning, drawing him into a world where literature and science intersect. As the fire crackles and the evening paper rustles, the doctor senses that the verses may conceal a darker truth about the city’s underbelly.
The narrative soon follows the enigmatic Lothian, a figure whose encounters in both genteel drawing rooms and shadowed streets reveal the grip of a relentless vice. Through careful observation and the emerging science of temperance, the story explores the personal and societal toll of alcoholism, weaving together intrigue, moral reckoning, and the fragile hope of redemption. Listeners are invited to walk the mist‑laden lanes of early twentieth‑century England, where each clue uncovers another layer of human frailty and the quest for salvation.
Language
en
Duration
~11 hours (672K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2012-10-22
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1875–1923
A prolific Edwardian journalist and novelist, he is best remembered for When It Was Dark (1903), a sensational bestseller built around a religious conspiracy. Writing under several names, he produced popular fiction, essays, and journalism with a flair for controversy and drama.
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