The Woman in White

The Woman in White

By

4.125
(24 Reviews)
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

Published:

1860

Pages:

615

ISBN:

0141439610

Downloads:

79,199

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The Woman in White

By

4.125
(24 Reviews)
The Woman in White is widely regarded as the first in the genre of 'sensation novels'. It follows the story of two sisters living in Victorian England with their selfish, uninterested uncle as their guardian. Marian Halcombe is the elder of the two sisters, and a remarkably ugly woman, but with courage, strength and resourcefulness in abundance. The younger, her beautiful half-sister Laura Fairlie, is engaged to a rich man by the name of Sir Percival Glyde.

Book Excerpt

his hand, the golden Papa has a letter; and after he has made his excuse for disturbing us in our Infernal Region with the common mortal Business of the house, he addresses himself to the three young Misses, and begins, as you English begin everything in this blessed world that you have to say, with a great O. 'O, my dears,' says the mighty merchant, 'I have got here a letter from my friend, Mr.----'(the name has slipped out of my mind; but no matter; we shall come back to that; yes, yes--right-all-right). So the Papa says, 'I have got a letter from my friend, the Mister; and he wants a recommend from me, of a drawing-master, to go down to his house in the country.' My-soul-bless-my-soul! when I heard the golden Papa say those words, if I had been big enough to reach up to him, I should have put my arms round his neck, and pressed him to my bosom in a long and grateful hug! As it was, I only bounced upon my chair. My seat was on thorns, and my soul was on fire to speak but I held my tongue, and let Papa go...

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Average from 24 Reviews
4.125
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I always hope discerning readers know how to ignore the reviewers like Leo who can be found all over the Internet dissing things that they aren't capable of appreciating.

This book is a classic page-turner that will keep you guessing. It is one of four exceptional novels that Collins wrote before his personal life, particularly a laudanum addiction, began to catch up with him. Anyone who enjoys a Victorian pot-boiler (not an oxymoron; they were known as "sensation fiction" novels) should read Wilkie's greatest: Woman in White, The Moonstone, Armadale, and No Name. You won't be sorry, unless you are like Leo.
This is one of the best gothic novels ever written. The character portrayal of Marian as a woman before her time is remarkable. Of course, the sexism of the 19th century is horrific, but that is the reality. Immerse yourself in it and enjoy a great yarn.
3
What a bore. Deliberately dilated narration. The novel could be reduced at least thrice.

Wilkie Collins apparently did not hear the saying that brevity is the soul of wit. Probably he thought, being an opium addict, that he writes succinctly enough.

And thay call this stuff a detective fiction classic! In my opinion this is merely a feminine romance.