The Moonstone (Modern Library Classics)
by Wilkie Collins
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Book Summary Information
Author: Wilkie CollinsIntroduction: Carolyn G. Heilbrun
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2001-09-11
ISBN: 0375757856
Number of pages: 528
Publisher: Modern Library
Book Reviews of The Moonstone (Modern Library Classics)
Book Review: Not what I was expecting, and probably not what YOU'RE expecting...
Summary: 3 Stars
I was ambivalent about how many stars to give this book (3 or 4), but decided on the lower number, which I will get to in a moment. First things first: if you are expecting a gothic, atmosphere-laden British detective novel, this isn't it. At all. In fact, I think this book is most aptly categorized as a satire, although it contains some classic detective novel features. (If you want Collins in Gothic mode, check out "The Haunted Hotel").
As the product description is a little sparse, I'll try to give a plot synopsis as succinctly as possible. During Britain's colonial takeover of India, a soldier steals a valuable diamond as a trophy of the conquest. Because the diamond was part of a religious artifact, it is said to be cursed, and also has 3 attendants to guard it at all times (however ineffectually). The diamond and it's Indian guardianship is passed down over several decades until the 18th birthday of Rachel Verinder, who is to inherit the diamond as part of a dubious bequest from her outcast uncle. But on the night of the party, the diamond is stolen, and everyone in the house has an opinion as to who took it, and where it will eventually turn up. The novel unfolds as each member of the household (and others) tell in turn their own stories relating to the theft of the diamond.
This telling of the story in turn (meaning shifting first person point of view) is pretty unique in the annals of mystery writing, although Ian Pears did it masterfully in "An Instance of the Fingerpost", and to my knowledge this is the first time such a technique was used in English literature. Afterward it found favor with Faulkner and others, so this is significant from an historic standpoint, and offers reason enough to buy this book.
So, will you enjoy this, and should you buy it? I think most people would enjoy this book, unless their taste is pretentiously high-brow. There's a lot of humor in this book, so maybe save it for a rainy day. Likewise, Collins does an excellent job of keeping the reader in suspense about what happened to the diamond, and the device of telling the story in turn is fairly ingenious and well done. However, two things about the book lowered it in my estimation. One was that this book was originally serialized, and the text suffers from a kind of "tune in next week" syndrome, rather than moving at a steady pace. The book is longer than it needed to be as a result. The second thing that detracted from the experience for me was the ending, which I feel was a bit contrived. All in all an enjoyable read, just not a productive one if you're not specifically studying the narrative technique.
Summary of The Moonstone (Modern Library Classics)
"The Moonstone is a page-turner," writes Carolyn Heilbrun. "It catches one up and unfolds its amazing story through the recountings of its several narrators, all of them enticing and singular." Wilkie Collins?s spellbinding tale of romance, theft, and murder inspired a hugely popular genre?the detective mystery. Hinging on the theft of an enormous diamond originally stolen from an Indian shrine, this riveting novel features the innovative Sergeant Cuff, the hilarious house steward Gabriel Betteridge, a lovesick housemaid, and a mysterious band of Indian jugglers.This Modern Library Paperback Classic is set from the definitive 1871 edition.
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