An Introduction
“The Mysterious Benedict Society” was a New York Times’ bestseller and a wildly beloved children’s book series. Published in 2007, the first book led on to three sequels and a prequel, all widely acclaimed. The series was written by Trenton Lee Stewart. These charming mystery novels follow a cast of colorful, lovable characters through a series of trials; however, they also provide a very strong example of doubles.
The book is titled after a character named Nicholas Benedict. An eccentric genius, Benedict leads the four child prodigy protagonists on a mission that will save the world, or at least save humanity’s free will. Little do they know, Benedict was a twin, separated from birth, and it is his brother who he is working to stop. The two of them are identical in many ways, but in others, they couldn’t be less alike. The twin, who goes by the name Ledroptha Curtain, is often a direct opposite to Benedict, and two people who could have been so close under different circumstances must work to destroy one another.
“The Mysterious Benedict Society” contains many examples of doubling, such as one twin being mistaken for the other, or one taking the other’s place. Over the course of the four main books, the reader becomes aware of how one thing can be perceived so differently in separate situations. For my next several blogs, I will be exploring the ways these characters are treated, discussing the stories they belong to, and gaining a deeper understanding of my own perceptions and biases. This series, and these characters, offer an excellent opportunity to learn about doubles and doppelgängers, and I look forward to diving in.