At the moment, I am reading " The Woman in White" by Collins Wilkie. The Woman in White is mystery and sensation novel. The story is sometimes considered an early example of detective fiction with the hero, Walter Hartright, employing many of the sleuthing techniques of later private detectives.
The novel was extremely successful commercially, but contemporary critics were generally hostile. Modern critics and readers regrad it as Collins best novel: a view with which Collins concured, as it is the only once of his novels named in his chosen eitaph: " Author of the Woman in White and other works of fiction".
The novel is about Walter Hartright, a young art teacher, directs a mysterious and distressed woman dressed entirely in white; but later learns that she has escaped from an sylum. Soon afterward, he travels to Limmeridge House in Cumberland, having been hired as a drawing master on the recommendation of his of his friend, Pesca, an Italian language master. The Limmeridge household comprises the invalid Frederick Fairlie, and Walter's students: Laura Fairlie, Mr. Fairlie's niece, and Marian Halcombe, her devoted half-sister.
Walter realises that Laura bears an astonishing resemblance to the woman in white, who is known to the household by the name of Anne Catherick: a mentally disabled child who formerly lived near Limmeridge, and was devoted to Laura's mother, who first dressed her in white.
Over the next few months, Walter and Laura fal in Love, and Marian advises Walter to leave Limmeridge. Anne later sends a letter to Laura, warning her agains he betrothed, Sir Percival Glyde, Baronet; and Walter, upon conversation with Anne, becomes convinced that Glyde originally placed Anne in the aylum.
Depised the misgivings of the family lawyer over the financial termns of the marriage settlement, Laura and Glyde marry in December 1849 and travel to Italy for six months.
Over the next few months, Walter and Laura fal in Love, and Marian advises Walter to leave Limmeridge. Anne later sends a letter to Laura, warning her agains he betrothed, Sir Percival Glyde, Baronet; and Walter, upon conversation with Anne, becomes convinced that Glyde originally placed Anne in the aylum.
Depised the misgivings of the family lawyer over the financial termns of the marriage settlement, Laura and Glyde marry in December 1849 and travel to Italy for six months.
Collins, Wilkie an English author, was one of the most successsful writers of detective fiction in the 1800'.s The woman in white (1860) and The Moonstone(1868) rank as his best and most popular novels.
I recommend you read this book, you will discover a world of passion, intrigue and maturity of the characters in the book.
I recommend you read this book, you will discover a world of passion, intrigue and maturity of the characters in the book.
