Within an Inch of His Life: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
Within an Inch of His Life: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

Within an Inch of His Life is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Gaboriau, Emile (1832–1873).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"Within an Inch of His Life" by Emile Gaboriau is a mystery novel set in the late 19th century. The story begins with chaos in the suburb of Sauveterre, where a peasant urgently informs the mayor about a devastating fire at Valpinson, the residence of Count Claudieuse, who has also been shot. As the events unfold, we are introduced to a cast of characters, including Count Claudieuse, his wife, and the mayor, who are soon engulfed in the investigation of the incident that could cost lives and reputations. The opening of the novel sets a dramatic stage, recounting how the mayor is awakened in the dead of night by frantic news of both a fire and an attack on the count. The tension escalates as the community mobilizes to address the chaos, revealing a portrait of a small-town grappling with fear and uncertainty. Count Claudieuse is described as gravely injured, creating urgency around finding the assailant. The arrival of Cocoleu, a mentally challenged man who claims he has seen the crime, adds an unpredictable element to the narrative, as his accusations against a local nobleman raise the stakes for all involved.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Within an Inch of His Life
- Author credits: Gaboriau, Emile (1832–1873)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Arsonists -- Fiction
- Detective and mystery stories
- Fires -- Fiction
- Paris (France) -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Crime, Thrillers and Mystery
- Category: French Literature
- Category: Novels
- Detective Fiction
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.


