The House of a Thousand Candles
A Review of The House of a Thousand Candles: Mystery and Romance in a Candlelit Mansion
The House of a Thousand Candles by Meredith Nicholson is a strange and rather old-school mystery and romance that transports the reader into an exciting new world with new characters and loads of mystery and suspense and an incredible house. This novel came out in 1905 and soon gained substantial popularity mostly thanks to the intriguing story and the keen sense of mystery. It is located in Indiana and as the story goes deeper, readers are introduced to candle-lit halls, secret doors/ passages and constantly shifting 1 faced points of view and mysterious plot keeps the suspense alive with a fresh twist till the very end.
The story’s first person is John Glenarm who has recently come into possession of his vastly generous grandfather’s rather large house under certain circumstances. Indeed, to fully inherit John must live in the house for a year continuously without venturing out, a stipulation of his grandfather’s will. This stipulation alone lays the plot for conflict as John is a young man with a roving mind he is used to the life of the nomad. But using all the money that Ann offered him, he was compelled to stay on in the mansion despite his misgivings.
The tale is also interesting because the house as an object plays almost a leading role in the story. Popularly known as The House of a Thousand Candles it is imbued with mystery with secret passages, hidden doors, and of course a thousand candles more in keeping with the designers’ implied magical aura. The details provided by Nicholson in the description of the estate help the reader easily picture all the scenes, starting from the sound of creaking floors, and moving toward the dimness of the halls, and the eerie shadows created by the candles. Having located the house’s” mysterious architecture” and the details of the house, the feelings of wonder, spooky and enchanting are felt.
In the course of the novel, John learns that there is somebody in the house who wants to evict him before the end of the year. It creates tension, as mere suspense is introduced; the noises during the night, people knocking on the door unpredictably. In his attempt to figure out who or what is responsible for these interferences, John learns that there is more on the line than his share of the Will. Escorted by his faithful man-servant, Bates he is trying to solve the secrets connected with the death of his grandfather and the enshrinement of the dark mysteries in Manor.
Further to the mix is a love interest, Marian Devereux; a lady who wanders into Holmes’ life and whose motives are at first ambiguous. Her part introduces the aspect of romance into the theme, making sure suspense is followed with some romantic twist, and John has something else to look for in the story apart from the suspense. The love subplot does not overwhelm the main plot however comes into play to explain John’s transformation from a youthful man of no responsibility into a man who is willing to die for his friend and wife.
On average, The House of a Thousand Candles is worth a good read because of the descriptive mystery, caper, and love story contained in it. Nicholson does not play puzzles: he tells the stories, though quite simple, which are appealing to readers anxious with light mysteries set in the old world. The novel remains timeless because of its very setting, its protagonists, and its plot – it is as simple and deadly as that. This tells of what was written over a century ago but remains one of the best books that are capable of giving the reader a feeling of being in a world where there are hidden behind every corner.
