Most Popular Books by WILKIE COLLINS

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, 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," and the novel was listed at number 77 on the BBC''s survey The Big Read.

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 Moonstone (1868) by Wilkie Collins is a 19th-century British epistolary novel. It is generally considered to be the first detective novel, and it established many of the ground rules of the modern detective novel. The story was originally serialised in Charles Dickens'' magazine All the Year Round. The Moonstone and The Woman in White are widely considered to be Collins'' best novels, and Collins adapted The Moonstone for the stage in 1877, although the production was performed for only two months. Plot outline: Rachel Verinder, a young English woman, inherits a large Indian diamond on her eighteenth birthday. It is a legacy from her uncle, a corrupt British army officer who served in India. The diamond is of great religious significance and extremely valuable, and three Hindu priests have dedicated their lives to recovering it. The story incorporates elements of the legendary origins of the Hope Diamond (or perhaps the Orloff Diamond or the Koh-i-Noor diamond). Rachel''s eighteenth birthday is celebrated with a large party, at which the guests include her cousin Franklin Blake. She wears the Moonstone on her dress that evening for all to see, including some Indian jugglers who have called at the house. Later that night, the diamond is stolen from Rachel''s bedroom, and a period of turmoil, unhappiness, misunderstandings and ill-luck ensues. Told by a series of narratives from some of the main characters, the complex plot traces the subsequent efforts to explain the theft, identify the thief, trace the stone and recover it.

- Unique book edition with 77 illustrations by John McLenan, produced for the 1860 and 1863 printings by HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS, New York. William Wilkie Collins was an English novelist, playwright, and short story writer best remember today for his novels "The Woman in White" (1859), "No Name" (1862), "Armadale" (1866) and "The Moonstone" (1868), considered the first modern English detective novel. "The Woman in White," a mystery novel and perhaps an early example of detective fiction, is considered among the first and the finest novels in the so-called "sensation" genre. It is also an excellent example of Victorian serial novels. Before they appeared in volume form, these novels were first published serialized in installments in magazines such as the well-known "ALL THE YEAR ROUND," a weekly journal curated by Charles Dickens. "The Woman in White" was published in 40 weekly installments. The original publication in "ALL THE YEAR ROUND" did not contain illustrations, but the novel was also published concurrently in the American magazine "Harper''s Weekly" in a serialization that included the illustrations by John McLenan later used in the publication in book form.

Bequeathed a rare diamond by her late uncle, heiress Rachel Verinder has no idea it was stolen from an Indian temple or that it has a cursed history. When the diamond disappears on her eighteenth birthday, multiple suspects--including Rachel''s suitor, Franklin Blake--are implicated in its theft. Determined to prove his innocence, Franklin begins his own investigation. Did one of his fellow Englishmen steal the jewel? Or was it whisked back to India? The case, which unfolds through multiple narratives, takes startling twists and turns in pursuit of the truth. Widely considered the first great detective novel written in English, The Moonstone is one of Wilkie Collins''s most famous works. AmazonClassics brings you timeless works from the masters of storytelling. Ideal for anyone who wants to read a great work for the first time or rediscover an old favorite, these new editions open the door to literature''s most unforgettable characters and beloved worlds. Revised edition: Previously published as The Moonstone, this edition of The Moonstone (AmazonClassics Edition) includes editorial revisions.

Featuring an appendix of discussion questions, this Diversion Classics edition is ideal for use in book groups and classrooms. Considered one of the first mystery novels, this extraordinary piece of Victorian literature is wrought with dizzying twists and psychological turns. Walter Hartright’s encounter with a mysterious woman clad in white leaves him spellbound. His thoughts are plagued so much by the encounter that he shares the story with his drawing students—the beautiful Laura Fairlie, and her half-sister, Marian Halcombe. But this woman in white piques more than their curiosity. As the story unravels, so does a mystery of identity, insanity, and betrayal.

In Wilkie Collins'' seminal work, "The Woman in White," the author deftly weaves a complex narrative that blends elements of mystery, gothic suspense, and social critique. Presented in a serialized format, the novel employs multiple viewpoints and a richly atmospheric prose style that immerses readers in the psychological depth of its characters. It explores themes of identity, madness, and the oppressive structures of Victorian society, particularly concerning gender and class—a reflection of the societal mores prevalent during Collins'' time. This illustrated edition further enriches the experience, offering visual interpretations that enhance the haunting narrative. Wilkie Collins, often hailed as a pioneer of the detective genre, was profoundly influenced by his personal experiences and the literary context of the mid-19th century. Close friendship with Charles Dickens and an engagement with contemporary social issues shaped Collins'' literary themes. Known for his commitment to realism, Collins drew on personal observations of the social injustices of his day, which uniquely positioned him to tackle the plight of women as exemplified in the character of Laura Fairlie. Readers are invited to enjoy Collins'' masterful storytelling, which not only captivates but also challenges societal norms. "The Woman in White" is a critical exploration of morality tinged with suspense, making it essential reading for those interested in Victorian literature, gender studies, or simply a thrilling narrative experience.

This eBook features the unabridged text of ‘Memoirs of the Life of William Collins Esq, Ra by Wilkie Collins - Delphi Classics (Illustrated)’ from the bestselling edition of ‘The Complete Works of Wilkie Collins’. Having established their name as the leading publisher of classic literature and art, Delphi Classics produce publications that are individually crafted with superior formatting, while introducing many rare texts for the first time in digital print. The Delphi Classics edition of Collins includes original annotations and illustrations relating to the life and works of the author, as well as individual tables of contents, allowing you to navigate eBooks quickly and easily. eBook features: * The complete unabridged text of ‘Memoirs of the Life of William Collins Esq, Ra by Wilkie Collins - Delphi Classics (Illustrated)’ * Beautifully illustrated with images related to Collins’s works * Individual contents table, allowing easy navigation around the eBook * Excellent formatting of the textPlease visit www.delphiclassics.com to learn more about our wide range of titles

HarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics.

HarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics.

Why buy our paperbacks? Standard Font size of 10 for all books High Quality Paper Fulfilled by Amazon Expedited shipping 30 Days Money Back Guarantee BEWARE of Low-quality sellers Don''t buy cheap paperbacks just to save a few dollars. Most of them use low-quality papers & binding. Their pages fall off easily. Some of them even use very small font size of 6 or less to increase their profit margin. It makes their books completely unreadable. How is this book unique? Unabridged (100% Original content) Font adjustments & biography included Illustrated About The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins The Moonstone (1868) by Wilkie Collins is a 19th-century British epistolary novel, generally considered the first detective novel in the English language. The story was originally serialised in Charles Dickens'' magazine All the Year Round. The Moonstone and The Woman in White are considered Wilkie Collins'' best novels. Besides creating many of the ground rules of the detective novel, The Moonstone also reflected Collins'' enlightened social attitudes in his treatment of the servants in the novel. Collins adapted The Moonstone for the stage in 1877, but the production was performed for only two months.

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.

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."

First published serially between 1859 and 1860, "The Woman in White" is Wilkie Collins''s epistolary novel that tells the tale of Walter Hartright, who encounters a woman all dressed in white on a moonlit road in Hampstead. Hartright helps the woman to find her way back to London. The woman warns him against an unnamed baronet and after they part he discovers that she may have escaped from an insane asylum. Hartright travels to Cumberland where he takes up a position as the art tutor of Laura Fairlie and her devoted half-sister, Marian Halcombe, who are somehow entangled with this mysterious "woman in white". Wilkie Collins''s fifth published novel, "The Woman in White" is considered one of the earliest examples of the mystery genre, an early work of detective fiction, and one of the finest examples of sensationalist literature. While the novel was a commercial success when first published it was harshly reviewed by critics of the age. Since that time it has come to be regarded as a groundbreaking work of the mystery genre, one of Collins''s best. This edition includes a biographical afterword.

Poor Miss Finch Wilkie Collins''s intriguing story about a blind girl, Lucilla Finch, and the identical twins who both fall in love with her, has the exciting complications of his better-known novels but it also overturns conventional expectations. Using a background of myth and fairy-tale to expand the boundaries of nineteenth-century realist fiction, Collins gives one of the best accounts in fiction of blindness and its implications.