The green overcoat

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

79154

Title

The green overcoat

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Hilaire Belloc's satirical tale follows Professor Higginson, a scholar of subliminal consciousness wrongly imprisoned after forging a cheque to pay gambling debts incurred by his son. After escaping captivity and losing his stolen green overcoat, he is eventually reunited with the merchant whose coat was taken. The story explores themes of mistaken identity, social class, and the absurdity of bureaucracy, culminating in an ironic twist where the professor's reputation is restored through a generous donation that never actually existed.

Summary up to 500 words

In Hilaire Belloc's *The Green Overcoat*, the narrative centers on Professor Higginson, a distinguished academic specializing in subliminal consciousness. His life is upended when he is kidnapped by two young men, Jimmy and Melba, who mistake him for his wealthy friend, Sir John Brassington's debt-ridden son, Booby. The misunderstanding stems from a forged cheque intended to cover gambling losses. During his confinement, Higginson attempts a desperate escape through a skylight in his captors' attic. His efforts result in the destruction of his bedding and the loss of his distinctive green overcoat, which he carries out of the house upon release. The stolen coat embarks on a supernatural journey. It is first acquired by a man named Montague, who sells it to a Polish second-hand dealer named Lipsky. The garment exerts a malevolent influence; Lipsky falls violently ill with unreasoning dread and eventually returns the coat. Meanwhile, Higginson's ordeal concludes when he discovers his captors have released him, only to realize he has left his coat behind. He retrieves it from a shopkeeper, but the coat's journey continues as another man attempts to sell it. The story culminates in a dramatic revelation orchestrated by Mr. Kirby, a wealthy friend of Sir John Brassington. Kirby gathers Higginson, Jimmy, Melba, and Booby to explain that the entire kidnapping was a case of mistaken identity; the youths had targeted the wrong man. To resolve the financial scandal and save Higginson from ruin, Kirby announces that Sir John Brassington has publicly donated ten thousand pounds to the university for research into subliminal phenomena. This generous act earns Brassington a Baronetcy. The narrative concludes with an ironic twist: the massive donation was never actually transferred, leaving the university's financial standing ambiguous after Higginson's eventual death. Despite the lack of funds, Higginson accepts his new status as Sir John's associate and continues his academic work. The green overcoat finds its rightful place hanging in Kirby's home, symbolizing the resolution of the mystery and the triumph of social order over chaotic misunderstanding.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Fiction
• Social Life and Customs