Summary
Charles Dickens's final novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, was left unfinished at the time of his death in 1870. Only six of the planned 12 monthly installments had been completed, leaving readers to forever speculate about the resolution of its central mystery—the disappearance of Edwin Drood. Set in the fictional cathedral city of Cloisterham, the story follows Edwin Drood, his uncle John Jasper, and a cast of memorable characters including Rosa Bud, Neville Landless, and the mysterious opium den proprietress known as Princess Puffer. Even unfinished, the novel showcases Dickens's masterful character development, atmospheric prose, and knack for creating suspense.
The Mystery of Edwin Drood has inspired numerous adaptations and continuations over the years. One of the most famous is the 1985 musical by Rupert Holmes, which welcomed the audience to vote on the identity of Edwin's murderer. The BBC also produced a well-received television adaptation in 2012, providing its own ending to Dickens's enigmatic final work.
Plot
The Mystery of Edwin Drood opens with John Jasper leaving an opium den in London. Jasper is the choirmaster at Cloisterham Cathedral and the uncle of Edwin Drood, an orphan. Since childhood, Edwin has been betrothed to Rosa Bud, also an orphan, but as they get older, they both have doubts about their engagement. Meanwhile, twins Neville and Helena Landless arrive in Cloisterham from Ceylon. Neville quickly becomes enamored with Rosa, leading to tension between him and Edwin.
On Christmas Eve, Edwin and Rosa amicably agree to end their engagement. That same night, Edwin disappears after dining with Jasper and Neville. The next morning, Jasper accuses Neville of murdering Edwin out of jealousy. Though Neville proclaims his innocence, suspicion falls heavily on him. Months later, Jasper confesses his love to Rosa, who flees to London in fear.
A mysterious man named Dick Datchery arrives in Cloisterham and begins investigating Edwin's disappearance. He takes particular interest in Jasper's activities. Meanwhile, the opium den proprietress known as Princess Puffer follows Jasper back to Cloisterham, having heard him speak of murder while under the influence of opium.
The story ends abruptly at this point, as Dickens died before completing the novel. Edwin's fate and the identity of his potential killer are left unresolved. Many theories and continuations have been proposed over the years, but the true ending remains a mystery.
