the woman in white wilkie collins summary

Lest someone intending to read this book is discouraged by the mixed nature of the reviews, let me state categorically - this is an enthralling and unputdownable Gothic mystery.

One last thing: Did Walt ever go back to court on that assault thing? Again, such a convoluted story maybe I missed that. Ultimately, she knew she had to marry a man though, as society required, but Marian would always be there-always. It also seemed that Laura was perhaps as feeble minded as Anne, just less noticeable, given her very different upbringing. Not making any criticisms on that front it was probably all that Collins could get away with in 1850.

Maybe it was customary of loving sisters at the time, but their touchy, feely, lip-locky behavior would likely be seen differently today. That may have altered my perception of the overall story.Īs for some of the characters-I'm not that familiar with the customs of the Brits during that time period, but the first part of the book seemed to have an undercurrent of lesbianism between Marian and Laura. My understanding is that this story was serialized at the time of its release. Add to that the convolution of what was already an uninteresting plot, and you have the makings of, at best, a mediocre story. Collins also attempts to subvert our imagination by being overly descriptive about the most mundane subjects, yet becoming very vague with others. My seat was on thorns, and my soul was on fire to speak but I held my tongue, and let Papa go.Įxcellent prose not withstanding, the book was infinitely longer than it needed to be, with some parts staggeringly boring. 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.

'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). 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.

The woman in white wilkie collins summary