Last year I read The Moonstone, and loved it, and as that and this one are considered two of the best novels of Wilkie Collins, I was excited to finally read it. I wasn't disappointed, except for a couple trivial points. Those 500 pages flew by, in fact, especially with mysteries or thrillers, I tend to read faster and faster the more wrapped up in the story I become. And sometimes I miss important details, so this time I took care to slow myself down, and even go back and re-read a paragraph or page to make sure I didn't miss anything.
    Wilkie Collins was born in 1824 in London, and died in that city in 1889. He was a close friend of Charles Dickens, who helped him in his writing career. He was known for his, um, rather unconventional attitude towards marriage and relationships, but perhaps the most tragic part of his life was his addiction to opium, taken to ease the pain from serious gout. Opium was a big, big deal with so many of these authors, especially in the 1800s, and one has to wonder how many more works of art they could have produced without that hindrance. It took its toll on Collins, with a decline in the quality of his writing. But fortunately he has left us with a number of great books to enjoy, and this is known as his best although to me it is a toss-up between it and The Moonstone. Hide and Seek is another excellent work. You can read all my reviews of Collins' books on his Index Page
    According to Wikipedia, The Woman in White was "among the first mystery novels." Mysteries don't have to be murder mysteries and this one isn't, but as always, when I review a book of this type, I am hesitant to provide too much information. Collins provides us with little clues and tidbits throughout the entire story because there are lots of missing pieces of the puzzle. We don't actually get every question answered, and so mysteries remain even after the last sentence it read. Supposedly, Collins had told a friend he wanted to inspire "the creepy effect, as of pounded ice dropped down the back." Hmm, well, it didn't but maybe I've just read too many books that are much creepier. And to me, pounded ice would be cold, but not creepy . . . .
    That is not to say there isn't suspense. This novel has some of the most extraordinary, well-developed characters I've ever read. There are a few you love and a few you loathe, and some real greed and evil going on. Wikipedia also says it is one of the finest "sensation novels," popular in Great Britain in the 1860s-1870s. (It was first published in 1861.) Sensation novels are tales "woven around criminal biographies." Yes, the two main antagonists are criminals, but one of the perhaps "disappointments" for me was the revelation of the "Secret" that, though it was a crime punishable by hanging in those days, would not be considered quite that serious now, though, depending on the circumstances could definitely land someone in prison. And as for the other male antagonist, well, we are left hanging on that one.
    Wikipedia also mentions that this novel is an early example of detective fiction, and the most unique aspect of it is that it is told by multiple narrators. Collins was an attorney, and all of the written evidence by the various characters would be like testimony in a court. One of the main females characters keeps a diary, to which she refers in order to verify information. In other cases, characters supply written evidence on request for what they have witnessed.
    And one last comment of mine is really petty, and that is the picture Dover chose for this edition. One important aspect of the Woman in White was that she was very fair and blond, and that becomes especially important towards the end. No matter, though because for some reason this book is out of print at Dover. They still supply it in eBook form, but don't ever buy an eBook from them because you can get a great many of their books for free at Project Gutenberg, and those you can't get free you can get cheaper at Amazon, although I would NEVER pay for an eBook.
    And now, on to the story. As mentioned, I will only supply the bare bones because I don't want to spoil the surprises, and there are lots of them. Some elements are obvious. We know Sir Percival is a scoundrel, but his "Secret" was truly a surprise to me. The other characters aren't a surprise, either. We pretty much know who is good and who is evil, and we know from the get-go that Sir Percival is marrying Laura for her money. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
    We begin as a struggling artist, Walter Hartright, saves the life of his little Italian friend, Professor Pesca when he almost drowns. He is indebted for life to Walter, and is excited when he secures him a position as a drawing instructor for two young ladies, Marion Halcombe and Laura Fairlie. They are half-sisters and orphans who live at the Fairlie estate at Limmeridge with Laura's self-proclaimed "invalid" uncle Frederick Fairlie, who is a hypochondriac, a whiny, sissy complainer who really wants no responsibility for anything or anyone, but prefers to sit in his room surrounded by his artworks and coins, with no interruptions in human form, if he can help it. One of Walter's other responsibilities is to mount many of these works of art.
    On the night before Walter is to leave for his new position, he has a very strange experience as he wanders around London late at night, returning from his mother and sister's house. He feels he is being followed, when suddenly a hand is place on him. It is a pale young woman, dressed all in white, who asks for help and speaks and behaves rather oddly. He assists her as he can, and it turns out, he has helped her escape from two men who are after her. He meets up with them, and they tell Walter she has escaped from the Asylum. Little does Walter know that he has just become involved in a series of events that will change his life forever. There is a connection between the Woman and White, and Laura Fairlie.
    Marion and Laura are inseparable, and according to Marion, Laura cannot live without her, and she won't live without Laura. Marion is older, not very pretty, but very wise and self-assured. It is she who first meets Walter, and converses with him as a poised, well-educated lady, without reserve or shyness. She is obviously a person of great responsibility and self-control, and immediately puts Walter at ease. The two become very comfortable with each other, and their friendship and mutual respect, which deepens throughout the story, is one of the novel's strongest points. These two characters are the true heroes and we grow to be amazed at their excellent qualities, of courage and determination, which strengthen as they realize the immense battle they face. By far, they were my favorite characters.
    Laura is a meek, pretty blond, who has learned to rely on Marion thinking for her. They are exact opposites. Well, it isn't long before Walter suddenly realizes he is in love with her, and chides himself for not being in control. But it is too late, because, though he has said or done nothing inappropriate, the energy between him and Laura is unmistakable. She has fallen in love with him, too, though he doesn't know it. Plus the fact that there is a strict class difference between them.
    It all happens so fast, and one day he wakes up to realize that the attitudes of the sisters toward him has become cold. Marion is not one to mince words, so she boldly tells him he must leave. She also tells him Laura is engaged to Sir Percival Glyde. The marriage had been arranged by Laura's late father, Philip. Laura, being the quiet, trusting type, believes her father knew best, and though she did not disagree at the time, she now begins a period of immense suffering because, not only does she not love Sir Percival, she most seriously does love Walter.
    This couple of days before he leaves is very important because so many events occur which set the stage for the imminent horrors to befall all three. When Walter met Laura, there was something familiar about her that he could not place, and then he finally realized that she looked very much like the mystery Woman in White. And who should show up nearby Limmeridge but the lady herself. Laura receives an anonymous letter warning her that Sir Percival is dangerous. Marion supports Laura's marriage, that is, at first, and there has never been a reason to not trust Sir Percival. He has always treated them in the most gentlemanly way.
    Walter figures out the Woman in White sent the letter. Her name is Anne Catherick, and her mother spent a short time near Limmeridge when her sister was dying, (only because she thought she would get an inheritance). At the time, Laura's mother was involved in the school, and little Anne, who was about the same age as Laura, and looked very much like her, grew to love Mrs. Fairlie in the short period of time they were together. She was not insane, but a very slow learner. Mrs. Fairlie once complimented her when she wore white, and after that, it was all she would wear.
    The only one who takes Anne's letter seriously is Walter. It turns out that Sir Percival will be arriving soon, because he is anxious to set the wedding date. (Red Flag!) Laura is still under age, and is not really ready. They bring in the family lawyer, Mr Gilmore, to look deeper into Sir Percival's background, but he also thinks there is nothing to find. However, Laura has become so distraught that now, even Marion is beginning to question the marriage, if for no other reason than that Laura is so unhappy about it. It ends up that Sir Percival leaves without anything definite.
    Walter, meanwhile, is off to Mexico in a very dangerous situation, to sketch ancient ruins. Marion had found him the position because he wanted to get out of England. Plus, he now knows for sure that he is being followed. Marion and Laura take a little trip just to give Laura a change of scenery.
    That is unfortunate, because Mr. Gilmore suddenly finds strong evidence that Sir Percival is in serious debt, and is most surely marrying Laura only for her money. He refuses to consent to the marriage agreement. I was personally surprised at the extent to which Laura's inheritance was legally distributed as part of the marriage contract. I guess that was the norm back then for the gentry. Mr. Gilmore found himself hounded by Sir Percival's lawyer, and the only way to resolve it was to get Mr. Fairlie, the useless uncle, to refuse to agree.
    As expected, though he was Laura's legal guardian, he really didn't care one way or another what happened to her, he just wanted to get her out of the house. Of all the characters I loathed, I think I loathed him the most. Mr. Gilmore really could not go against Mr. Fairlie, and it took its toll on him. He becomes very ill soon after, and puts his partner, Mr. Kyrle, in charge.
    And so the marriage takes place. The two go off to Italy where they meet up with Sir Percival's closest friend, Count Fosco, an immensely fat man. He is married to Laura's aunt, who was supposed to inherit money when her brother died, but he was so angry that she married a "foreigner," that he took her out of the will. So, between them and Percival, Laura finds herself surrounded by wolves.
    She finally returns to Blackwater Park, Sir Percival's home, which he had spent money, (that he didn't have) doing remodeling while they were away. Marion arrives there before they do, because Laura insisted she live with them. The Count and Countess will also be living there.
    At first Laura seems very distant from Marion, but soon she realizes that Laura has been abused. Laura finally admits the terror of her marriage. And from there, things get very bad.
    I want to make just one more comment and that is about Count Fosco. He, of all the characters, is the enigma, and remains so even after the end of the book. We learn more about him, but we still don't know him. He is an animal lover, who keeps pet white mice, canaries, and a cockatoo, all of which he has trained and plays with every day. When Sir Percival loses his temper, the count makes corrections. Everyone fears him, even those who love him. His wife does his bidding and a glance from him communicates his wishes. For some reason, he comes to love Marion, while she is repulsed by him. He has an extremely gentle side, but never lets anyone forget he has them in his power, including Percival. He sings opera, and though corpulent, he walks gently and lightly. He is the epitome of a dichotomy!
    And that is all I will say, because I do not want to ruin any of the suspense. I hope I haven't said too much already! This is really a very excellent story—a book you won't want to put down.

j u i r j

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