Buried Alive

Meet Mr. Priam Farll, a gifted painter whose shyness is so profound that when his valet, Henry Leek, unexpectedly passes away, the doctor mistakenly identifies the dead man as Priam and the living artist as his servant. Rather than correct the error, Priam allows the ruse to continue. Following the lavish funeral in Westminster Abbey, he unexpectedly marries a widow and enjoys a blissful life—until financial troubles force him back to his easel. As a savvy art connoisseur begins to recognize Priam’s distinctive style, he believes the works to be those of a fraud and profits handsomely by selling them in America as authentic. Yet, Priams stubborn shyness prevents him from revealing his true identity. (Summary by Simon Evers)