Four square Jane by Edgar Wallace
"Four Square Jane" by Edgar Wallace is a crime novel written in the early 20th century. The story centers around a mysterious and cunning female thief known as Four Square Jane, whose daring crimes confound both police and private detectives, all while she targets the wealthy elite. Notably, Jane is not a typical villain; she often directs the profits of her crimes toward charitable causes, complicating her moral status. Readers interested in
clever heists, enigmatic protagonists, and the interplay between crime and justice among England's upper class will find this book especially engaging. The opening of "Four Square Jane" introduces readers to the Lewinstein family as they prepare for an elaborate house-party attended by high society, with valuable jewels and treasures on display. Mr. Lewinstein, wary of the notorious Four Square Jane, hires a young American lady detective for protection, but she is soon incapacitated in a suspicious manner. As night falls, a masked female thief skillfully robs several guests, leaving behind her signature label. The narrative then broadens: Jane returns a priceless stolen armlet for the sake of a struggling hospital, and the police, led by the adept Peter Dawes, scramble to keep up with her exploits—most notably a daring theft and restoration of a famous painting, each time outwitting her pursuers. The opening chapters also introduce intriguing family dynamics and possible motives, particularly among the Wilberforce and Claythorpe families, suggesting that Jane's actions may serve purposes deeper than mere greed. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Wallace, Edgar, 1875-1932 |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Tennant, C. Dudley (Charles Dudley), 1866-1952 |
| Title | Four square Jane |
| Original Publication | London: The Readers Library Publishing Company Ltd., 1929. |
| Note | Wikipedia page about this book: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Square_Jane |
| Credits | an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 82.8 (6th grade). Easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PR: Language and Literatures: English literature |
| Subject | Detective and mystery stories |
| Subject | England -- Fiction |
| Subject | Criminals -- Fiction |
| Category | Text |
| EBook-No. | 75808 |
| Release Date | Apr 7, 2025 |
| Most Recently Updated | Jul 19, 2025 |
| Copyright Status | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 362 downloads in the last 30 days. |
| Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free! | |