The Green Mummy

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

2868

Title

The Green Mummy

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A Victorian mystery blending romance, archaeology, and supernatural intrigue. When a wealthy bachelor purchases a controversial green mummy to secure his fiancée's marriage, the relic's dark secrets threaten to unravel lives, expose a scientist's obsession, and reveal a tragic past involving murder and betrayal.

Summary up to 500 words

In Fergus Hume's *The Green Mummy*, the narrative centers on Archibald Hope, an aspiring artist, and his beloved Lucy, the daughter of the eccentric Egyptologist Professor Braddock. To secure Lucy's hand in marriage against her step-father's initial objections, Hope pays Braddock one thousand pounds. The Professor, however, is not merely interested in the transaction; he is driven by a fervent desire to acquire a rare green mummy from Peru and subsequently finance an expedition to the tomb of Queen Tahoser. His true motives are a mix of scientific glory and greed. The plot thickens when the mummy arrives on the ship *The Diver*. A confrontation erupts between Professor Braddock's associate, Sidney Bolton, and a rival named Hervey. During a chaotic struggle at the jetty, the mummy case is accidentally shot, killing the Professor inside. It is later revealed that the case did not contain a Peruvian mummy, but rather the corpse of Professor Braddock himself. Desperate to escape arrest for his illicit expedition plans, the Professor had hidden within the case, a scheme facilitated by his faithful servant, Cockatoo, who was forced to participate in the escape. Following the incident, the case is ruled justifiable homicide, and Cockatoo is hanged for the double murder, while the rival soldier, Don Pedro, goes free. Archie and Lucy marry, leaving the haunted past behind, while the rival soldier marries the Professor's assistant's daughter. The novel explores themes of obsession, the conflict between scientific ambition and moral integrity, and the destructive nature of greed. Ultimately, the couple finds peace, though Lucy retains a lifelong aversion to the color green, symbolizing the tragedy that once consumed their lives.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2868.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg2868.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-06-29 19:22 UTC

Categories

• Fiction
• Mystery