Beetle

Published in 1897, 'The Beetle' by Richard Marsh follows a mysterious oriental figure who pursues a British politician in London, unleashing chaos through hypnosis and shape-shifting. This novel aligns with other sensational works of the late 19th century, such as Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' and Sax Rohmer's 'Fu Manchu' series, employing multiple narrative perspectives to build suspense. Marsh, writing under a pseudonym, explores themes of identity and the supernatural in a story that reflects the anxieties of its time.