THE PROBLEM OF CELL 13 (PT 2)  BY JACQUE FUTRELL

THE PROBLEM OF CELL 13 (PT 2) BY JACQUE FUTRELL

Author: Jon Hagadorn August 19, 2026 Duration: 36:43

JACQUE FUTRELL'S FINAL IRONY — THE PROBLEM HE COULDN'T ESCAPE: THE TITANIC

Jacques Futrelle (1875–1912) was one of America's great early mystery craftsmen. Before his untimely death, he created more than fifty stories featuring The Thinking Machine, a character designed to rival Sherlock Holmes in pure deductive brilliance. Van Dusen's creed—"Two and two always make four, not sometimes, but all the time"—became the backbone of Futrelle's tightly engineered puzzles.

His stories were clever, modern, and immensely popular. Futrelle was on the rise, writing novels, touring, and enjoying international acclaim.

Then came April 1912.

Futrelle and his wife Lily boarded the RMS Titanic for their return to America. When the ship struck the iceberg, Futrelle reportedly insisted Lily board a lifeboat, telling her he would be fine. He stayed behind, helping others reach safety. He was last seen on the deck, smoking calmly with fellow writer John Jacob Astor as the ship went down.

The man who created a character capable of escaping any prison could not escape the one fate placed before him.

It remains one of literature's great ironies—and one of its great heartbreaks.

 

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Step into a world where every episode is a journey into a different time and place, guided by the voices of literary masters. 1001 Classic Short Stories & Tales, curated and narrated by Jon Hagadorn, is a quiet sanctuary for those who appreciate the crafted prose of a bygone era. This podcast focuses exclusively on the golden age of short fiction, pulling masterful works from the period between 1850 and 1930. Each selection is chosen for its enduring power to connect, offering narratives that resonate with emotional depth and timeless human experience. You’ll hear the suspenseful twists of Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie, the poignant social observations of Edith Wharton, the rugged adventures of Jack London, and the finely drawn characters of O. Henry. The collection also includes the gothic intensity of Edgar Allan Poe, the economic storytelling of Ernest Hemingway, and the heartfelt tales of Henry Lawson, among many others. Hagadorn’s narration is clear and considered, designed to let the authors' original language shine. It’s an archive built for repeated listening, whether you’re discovering these stories for the first time or revisiting old favorites. For anyone seeking a break from the modern noise with a truly classic tale, this consistently updated podcast provides a deep and rewarding library of fiction’s finest moments.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

1001 Classic Short Stories & Tales
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