The Woman in White (Dover Thrift Editions)
by Wilkie Collins
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Book Summary Information
Author: Wilkie CollinsEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-04-15
ISBN: 0486440966
Number of pages: 528
Publisher: Dover Publications
Book Reviews of The Woman in White (Dover Thrift Editions)
Book Review: A little too melodramatic and stereotypical for me...
Summary: 3 Stars
The Limmeridge estate undergoes some dramatic changes after its master dies. And now Miss Laura Fairlie is in a dilemma. She has promised her moribund father that she'd marry Sir Percival Glyde. This man is no dreamboat. Ambitious, ruthless and cunning, he will do just about anything to marry Laura. After all, there's a lot of money to be had in such a match. Laura must fall for him. But fate is not on his side. Enter Walter Hartright, a somewhat respectable art teacher. He falls for Laura... and that is where all of the drama unfolds. Will Sir Percival give in? Will Laura find protection from Walter, or will her sister Marian step in? Who is the woman in white who Walter encounters on his way to London? Is the chance encounter meaningless, or is she somehow related to the events that follow?
And that is all I will say about this novel. First published in 1860, The Woman in White is the proverbial Victorian novel full of forbidden romance and gothic suspense. Wilkie Collins is also something of a social commentator in this book. Oppositions to arranged marriages and the ways of its time are clear in tone and subplot. The twists and turns are done in a great manner. The ebb and flow had a bit of Dickens mixed with Emily Bronte to it that fascinated me. But I'm disappointed with the fact that this novel does not showcase the gothic elements that I had hoped to get with this. It does not deliver what it promises, and I had expected a lot with a title like The Woman in White. The author also resorted to stereotypes when describing the villains. For instance, Count Fosco is obese and unattractive and unpleasant -- the proverbial creepy villain type. There are other examples, but I won't go into them right now. Suffice to say that some of the characters fall under the caricature category. The one big exception here is Marian. I actually loved this character and how perceptive, intelligent and protective she is. There's a bit of a feminist in her that I liked. All in all, I don't love this book, but I don't hate it either. This is the first time I read a Wilkie Collins novel. I have never read Moonstone, though I've heard some wonderful things about it. I did somewhat enjoy this book, so I may pick up Moonstone in the near future.
Summary of The Woman in White (Dover Thrift Editions)
A scheming nobleman, a beautiful heiress, and, of course, a mysterious woman in white confined to an asylum for the insane are just a few of the unforgettable characters in this marvelous tale of mistaken identities, locked rooms, and surprise revelations. Widely regarded as the finest work of Wilkie Collins.
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