The Woman in White (Collins Classics)

Wilkie Collins

May 2012 · Sold by HarperCollins UK

About this ebook

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

‘The woman who first gives life, light, and form to our shadowy conceptions of beauty, fills a void in our spiritual nature that has remained unknown to us till she appeared.’

One of the earliest works of ‘detective’ fiction with a narrative woven together from multiple characters, Wilkie Collins partly based his infamous novel on a real-life eighteenth century case of abduction and wrongful imprisonment. In 1859, the story caused a sensation with its readers, hooking their attention with the ghostly first scene where the mysterious ‘Woman in White’ Anne Catherick comes across Walter Hartright. Chilling, suspenseful and tense in mood, the novel remains as emotive for its readers today as when it was first published.

Ratings and reviews

In the end, I'm not sure it amounts to much. But it was a thoroughly enjoyable read -- vivid characters and sharp pacing and a plot that, while fairly obvious, has enough surprises to engage the modern reader who may be used to more wild plot twists.

my god this is dreary'

About the author

William Wilkie Collins (1824–1889) was an English novelist, playwright, and author of short stories. He wrote 30 novels, more than 60 short stories, 14 plays, and more than 100 essays. His best-known works are The Woman in White and The Moonstone.