Most Popular Books by Wilkie Collins

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Wilkie Collins''s "The Frozen Deep" is a captivating novella that intertwines themes of love, sacrifice, and the indomitable human spirit against the backdrop of the Arctic''s unforgiving expanse. Written in 1856, this work showcases Collins''s trademark style, utilizing vivid imagery and emotive language to evoke a sense of both adventure and melancholy. The narrative unfolds through a rich tapestry of characters, each grappling with their personal desires and dilemmas as they face the existential perils of their icy surroundings, reflecting contemporary Victorian concerns about exploration, imperialism, and the fragility of human relationships. Wilkie Collins, often heralded as a pioneer of detective fiction and the sensation novel, was deeply influenced by his fascination with melodrama and psychological complexity. His collaboration with Charles Dickens and involvement in the London theater scene informed his ability to craft compelling narratives that not only entertain but also provoke critical thought. "The Frozen Deep," originally presented as a play, reveals Collins''s desire to explore the darker aspects of the human psyche and illustrates the moral challenges posed by extreme circumstances. Readers seeking a gripping exploration of human emotion set against an Arctic frontier will find "The Frozen Deep" an essential addition to their literary collection. Collins''s nuanced characters and evocative prose provide profound insights into companionship and resilience, making this an enduring work that resonates with the complexities of human experience.

This brilliant Victorian detective story has been skilfully adapted into a fast moving mystery. Exploring superstition, loyalty, fate, the intriguing mix of characters and the deadly Moonstone, the play retains all the excitement of Wilkie Collins'' original.

In ''The Woman in White, '' Wilkie Collins masterfully weaves a tale of mystery and suspense, presenting a gripping narrative that explores themes of identity, madness, and the constraints of Victorian society. This illustrated edition enhances the text with visual elements that further immerse the reader in the novel''s intricate plot and atmospheric settings. Collins employs a unique epistolary structure, using multiple perspectives to build tension and develop a rich tapestry of characters, including the enigmatic figure of the woman in white, who defies societal expectations and embodies the struggle for autonomy against oppressive forces. Wilkie Collins, a contemporary and commentator of Charles Dickens, was a pioneer of the sensation novel, a genre that captivated Victorian readers with its focus on crime, psychological depth, and scandalous intrigue. His personal experiences, including his advocacy for women''s rights and his intimate knowledge of legal affairs, profoundly informed the book''s exploration of the plight of women in a patriarchal society. Collins'' rich background in literature and law allowed him to craft complex characters and intricate plots that resonate deeply with contemporary readers. I recommend ''The Woman in White'' not only for its exhilarating plot and vivid illustrations but also for its sharp critique of societal norms and its profound psychological insight. It remains a timeless masterpiece that invites readers to contemplate the darker sides of human nature and the societal roles imposed on women, making it an essential addition to the canon of English literature.

Blind Love is Wilkie Collins’s final novel. Although he did not live to complete the work, he left detailed plans for the last third of this absorbingly plotted novel which were faithfully executed by his colleague, the popular author Walter Besant. The novel is set during the Irish Land War of the early 1880s and tells the story of Iris Henley, an independent young woman who marries the “wild” Lord Harry Norland, a member of an Irish secret society, and becomes unhappily drawn into a conspiracy plot. The Broadview edition of Blind Love includes a critical introduction and primary source materials that address the novel’s focus on movements for Irish independence. Appendices include newspaper accounts of Ireland during the Land War and of the fraud case on which Collins based his story, articles reacting to Collins’s sudden death, Punch cartoons depicting the English attitudes toward the Irish, and contemporary reviews.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

The Two Destinies was published in 1876 and dedicated to Charles Reade. Collins explores the themes of ''destined spirits'' and supernatural visions. He acknowledges taking the second idea from a case reported in Robert Dale Owen''s Footfalls on the Boundary of another World. This describes how a ship''s captain is convinced to change course after seeing an apparition and saves the passengers of a wrecked ship, including the person in the vision.

Wilkie Collins''s The Woman in White. First serialized and then published as a book in 1860, Wilkie Collins''s The Woman in White represents a seminal classic of English fiction. It is classified by some critics among mystery novels and by some others as a Gothic novel. The narrative''s structure is epistolary. It tells the story of a poor young art teacher named Walter Hartright who happens to see a strange apparition one evening as he is strolling through the streets of London. It is the unearthly figure of a woman dressed all in white and who seems to suffer from mental troubles. Later in the novel, while teaching at Limmeridge House, Walter discovers that his most beloved student named Laura has a striking resemblance to the mad woman that he has encountered. Despite the mutual love between the teacher and his student, the latter has to marry a noble man named Sir Percival Glyde to satisfy her father''s wishes. The readers then learn that the woman in white is Laura''s half sister who was confined to a mental asylum and who eventually dies of a heart condition. Glyde does not really like Laura and wishes to steal her money. He conspires to send her to the mental asylum to replace her identical sister. Helped by her other sister Marian, Laura manages to flee the asylum and finally marry Walter after the accidental death of her wicked husband.

The Woman in White is Wilkie Collins'' fifth published novel, written in 1859. It is considered to be among the first mystery novels and is widely regarded as one of the first (and finest) in the genre of "sensation novels".The story is sometimes considered an early example of detective fiction with protagonist Walter Hartright employing many of the sleuthing techniques of later private detectives. The use of multiple narrators (including nearly all the principal characters) draws on Collins''s legal training,[1][2] and as he points out in his Preamble: "the story here presented will be told by more than one pen, as the story of an offence against the laws is told in Court by more than one witness". In 2003, Robert McCrum writing for The Observer listed The Woman in White number 23 in "the top 100 greatest novels of all time",[3] and the novel was listed at number 77 on the BBC''s survey The Big Read.[4]

The Woman in White is an epistolary novel written by Wilkie Collins in 1859, serialized in 1859-1860, and first published in book form in 1860. It is considered to be among the first mystery novels and is widely regarded as one of the first (and finest) in the genre of ''sensation novels''. As was customary at that time, The Woman in White was first published as a magazine serial. The first episode appeared on 29 November 1859, following Charles Dickens''s own A Tale of Two Cities in Dickens''s magazine All the Year Round in England, and Harper''s Magazine in America. It caused an immediate sensation. Julian Symons (in his 1974 introduction to the Penguin edition) reports that "queues formed outside the offices to buy the next instalment. Bonnets, perfumes, waltzes and quadrilles were called by the book''s title. Gladstone cancelled a theatre engagement to go on reading it. And Prince Albert sent a copy to Baron Stockmar." So don''t wait! Scroll up and buy now.

First published serially in 1868, Wilkie Collins''s "The Moonstone" is generally considered as the first full length detective novel in the English language. The novel concerns a large valuable diamond plundered from India by Colonel Herncastle during the Siege of Seringapatam. Herncastle, who has been shunned by his own family, decides to bequeath the diamond to his niece Rachel Verinder on her eighteenth birthday. At her birthday party, Rachel wears the Moonstone for all to see, later that night the diamond goes missing from her room and quickly an investigation ensues to discover the identity of the thief and recover the jewel. Suspicion quickly falls upon three Indian jugglers at the party who are actually disguised Hindu priests who have dedicated their lives to recovering the diamond which has great religious significance. Despite the efforts of Sergeant Cuff, a renowned detective, the night ends with the mystery unsolved. Described by G. K. Chesterton as "probably the best detective tale in the world", "The Moonstone" is one of Wilkie Collins''s most popular works which influenced the development an entirely new genre of fiction. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.