The Doors of Death: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Doors of Death: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
The Doors of Death is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Waltermire, Arthur B. (1888–1938).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Doors of Death" by Arthur B. Waltermire is a short story that appeared in the magazine Weird Tales in the 1930s. This narrative combines elements of horror and philosophical musings, centering on the themes of mortality, fear of dying, and the afterlife. The story unfolds as a dialogue between a dying banker and his devoted servant, examining the deeper questions surrounding life and death. The storyline revolves around Judson McMasters, who, like his grandfather before him, fears the possibility of being buried alive due to a peculiar family malady. As he nears death, he has an intense conversation with his long-serving servant, Biggs, discussing beliefs about the afterlife and his own regrets about not having truly lived. McMasters reveals a secret plan he devised to avoid premature burial by installing an electric bell in his mausoleum to signal that he is not truly dead if the need arises. After dying, he uses a secret trap door to escape, but ultimately, the shock proves too much for Biggs, leading to a tragic conclusion. The story explores the anxieties of death and the human desire for control over the inevitable.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Doors of Death
- Author credits: Waltermire, Arthur B. (1888–1938)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Horror tales
- Short stories
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
- Category: Short Stories
Read this edition
View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.
Sources
More in Books & Authors
Keep reading
