No Name (Penguin Classics)
by Wilkie Collins
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Book Summary Information
Author: Wilkie CollinsEditor: Mark Ford
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1995-07-01
ISBN: 014043397X
Number of pages: 640
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Book Reviews of No Name (Penguin Classics)
Book Review: You know a book is good when you don't want it to end
Summary: 5 Stars
No Name is the third book I've read from Wilkie Collins, the first two being The Moonstone and The Woman in White, which are considered to be the two most popular of his novels. As with those two, Collins once again comes up with a book that is deep, complicated, yet intriguing, suspenseful and fun to read, all despite its hefty length (over seven hundred pages). No Name takes on the issue of illegitimacy, which in Collins' time period might have been a stigma of disgrace for the children (although today we probably wouldn't even budge). The novel's main protagonist, Magdalen, is one of the two Vanstone sisters, who are dubbed "no one's children" after the truth about their parents' marriage is revealed. Symbolically, both sisters have their identity stolen from them in society; legally, both also have their inheritance and legacy taken from them and given to their greedy uncle, Michael Vanstone, who was on bad terms with their father. When he dies, all the inheritance then goes over to his equally greedy son, Noel. Both sisters, Norah and Magdalen, have to fend for themselves in the world after losing money and their home. While Norah tries to go about living by being a governess, Magdalen, very much the opposite of Norah, wants to reclaim their father's inheritance at any cost or means necessary. The story moves away from Norah, and we focus primarily on Magdalen the rest of the way.
Several aspects make No Name an engaging book, namely its vivid characterization and plot devices. Collins constructs a complicated plot where Magdalen teams up with the self-proclaimed "moral agriculturalist" (aka scoundrel) Captain Wragge in attempts to regain the family inheritance, and the pair concoct a scheme which includes changing their names, identity, and their attire to gain access to Noel Vanstone and the inheritance. Magdalen even decides to take on the idea of marrying the miserly Noel Vanstone. However, Captain Wragge meets his match in Mrs. Lecount, the faithful and even shrewder governess for Noel Vanstone. Probably the most entertaining part of No Name is following along with all the twists and turns as Captain Wragge and Mrs. Lecount attempt to outmaneuver each other. Wragge and Lecount will stoop as low as they can to trick each other, and this creates some rather distasteful encounters, but funny nonetheless. Collins has a way of creating suspense, and then twisting a plot event into another suspenseful moment. Magdalen is the most complex character in the Collins' work, as she is a rare female hero in Victorian fiction that is feisty and unrelenting in her pursuit, even to the point where she can be cruel to those close to her. There are times when you want to root for her, but there are times when you feel as though she is acting too impulsive and foolhardy. Part of her depth stems from the idea that she is not just trying to only save her and her sister's name, but out of principle for her father's memory. Captain Wragge is one of the more memorable characters in fiction; his slyness is unrelenting, and his "street smarts" about deception is unparalleled in any character I've read. He struck me as reminiscent of a Dickens-type character in his eccentricity, which is not coincidental since Collins and Dickens were friends.
Where The Moonstone and The Woman in White take suspense and blend in mystery and a tad of the supernatural, No Name is more of suspense with a moral issue attached. Similar to Dickens, Collins tended to produce books in serial form where there are many tiny episodes and a cliffhanger towards the end of the chapters. The writing in No Name reflects this type of format, but there are also letters written from one character to another to help the plot progress along. This is an interesting device because you get into each of the character's heads as the plot thickens.
Over all, any fan of Victorian literature or Dickens will enjoy No Name. The more I read Wilkie Collins, the more I want to read other books by him. It's too bad that this book has been so neglected and overlooked, and not mentioned when the word "classic" is thrown around by scholars and readers. This novel would also make for a fantastic film (as long as the producers didn't mess up the story).
Great book! Highly recommended!
Summary of No Name (Penguin Classics)
Magdalen and her sister Norah, beloved daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Vanstone, find themselves the victims of a catastrophic oversight. Their father has neglected to change his will, and when the girls are suddenly orphaned, their inheritance goes to their uncle. Now penniless, the conventional Norah takes up a position as a governess, but the defiant and tempestuous Magdalen cannot accept the loss of what is rightfully hers and decides to do whatever she can to win it back. With the help of cunning Captain Wragge, she concocts a scheme that involves disguise, deceit and astonishing self-transformation. In this compelling, labyrinthine story, Wilkie Collins brilliantly demonstrates the gap between justice and the law, and in the subversive Magdalen he portrays one of the most exhilarating heroines of Victorian fiction.Classics Books
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