Some popular public domain mystery novels include 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood' by Charles Dickens. Although it was left unfinished at Dickens' death, it still intrigues readers with its mystery elements. 'The Woman in White' by Wilkie Collins is another popular one. It has a complex plot full of mystery and suspense. 'The Leavenworth Case' by Anna Katharine Green was also very popular in its time and is now in the public domain.
You can find public domain mystery novels in several places. One option is Project Gutenberg (www.gutenberg.org). It has a vast collection of public domain books, including many mystery novels. Another place is your local library. They often have a section dedicated to classic and public domain works. Also, some second - hand bookstores might have old mystery novels that are in the public domain.
Some classic novels like 'Pride and Prejudice' and 'Moby-Dick' are in the US public domain. Many works published before a certain date fall into this category.
Some of the classic novels in the public domain include 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' by Mark Twain and 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley. These works are no longer protected by copyright, allowing for greater accessibility and reuse.
Well, you could start with Google Books. Just type in 'public domain mystery short stories' and you'll get a bunch of results. Some of the older, out - of - print anthologies might be available in full or in part. Antique bookstores can also be a goldmine. Sometimes they have collections of short stories from decades ago that are now in the public domain. You might have to do a bit of digging, but it can be really rewarding to find those hidden gems of mystery short stories.
One well - known public domain mystery short story is 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's considered a pioneer in the detective fiction genre. Another is 'The Adventure of the Speckled Band' by Arthur Conan Doyle. These stories have influenced countless mystery writers over the years.
The public domain horror novels often feature elements that tap into our deepest fears. For example, the fear of death and the afterlife in 'The Turn of the Screw'. They also can have a moral undertone, as seen in 'The Monk' where the main character's downfall is due to his moral lapses. Moreover, they can be very atmospheric. In 'The Phantom of the Opera', the grandeur yet spooky setting of the opera house is used to great effect to create a horror - filled environment.
Public domain spy novels often have complex characters. For example, in 'The Secret Agent', the characters are morally ambiguous. They also tend to have intricate plots. In 'The Thirty - Nine Steps', the hero has to constantly outwit his pursuers through a series of exciting events. And many of them are set in different historical periods, like 'Kim' which is set in colonial India, showing how spying was related to the political and cultural context of the time.
One characteristic is the exploration of otherworldly places. In 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz', we are introduced to the magical land of Oz with its different regions and inhabitants. Another aspect is the use of magic as a central element. In 'The King of Elfland's Daughter', magic is what binds the mortal and the elf worlds together, and it's used to create a sense of mystery and allure throughout the story. These novels also usually have memorable characters, such as the brave Dorothy in 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' or the curious Alice in 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'.
Yes, it is generally legal to use public domain quotes in novels. Since the quotes are in the public domain, they are not protected by copyright. This means that authors can freely incorporate them into their works without having to seek permission or pay royalties.