Madame Midas - Hume, Fergus

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Résumé :
Madame Midas by Fergus Hume is a conventional novel, set against the backdrop of the Australian goldfields all through the 19th century. The tale unfolds inside the bustling town of Ballarat, in which gold mining is at its top, and the promise of wealth lures fortune seekers from all walks of life. The titular individual, Madame Midas, is a mysterious and inviting woman who arrives in Ballarat with a beyond shrouded in secrecy. As the narrative unfolds, Madame Midas becomes entangled in a web of love, greed, and betrayal. Her relationships with the opposite characters, such as the fascinating miner Gaston Vandeloup, add layers of complexity to the plot. The novel explores topics of wealth, ambition, and the effects of unchecked choice. The harsh and unpredictable conditions of the goldfields serve as a metaphor for the capricious nature of destiny and the pursuit of fortune. Fergus Hume's brilliant descriptions and engaging storytelling seize the essence of the Australian frontier throughout the gold rush generation. Madame Midas stands as a captivating work that combines elements of romance, thriller, and social remark. Hume's narrative prowess and eager observations of human nature contribute to the enduring attraction of this nineteenth-century literary gem.

Biographie:
Ferguson Wright Hume, also known as Fergus Hume, was a prolific English novelist who wrote detective fiction, thrillers, and mysteries. Hume was born in Powick, Worcestershire, England, as the second son of James C. Hume, a Scot who worked as a clerk and steward at the county pauper and lunatic asylum. When he was three, his family moved to Dunedin, New Zealand, where he attended Otago Boys' High School and studied law at the University of Otago. He was admitted to the New Zealand Bar in 1885. Hume moved to Melbourne, Australia, shortly after graduating and began working as a barristers' clerk. He began writing plays but was unable to persuade Melbourne theatre managers to approve, let alone read them. Hume returned to England, first in London, then in Thundersley, Essex, at Church Cottage, most likely on the invitation of the Reverend Thomas Noon Talfourd Major. Hume resided in Thundersley for thirty years, producing over 130 novels and various collections, the most of which were mystery stories, although he never regained the fame of his debut novel. He also wrote lyrics for songs written by his brother-in-law, Charles Willeby, and book reviews for literary periodicals such as The Bookman. The 1911 census shows him as 'author', aged 51, and living at Church Cottage, Thundersley, which comprised of six rooms. He had a housekeeper, Ada Louise Peck, a widow aged 69. He made regular trips to Italy, France, Switzerland, and other European countries.