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I first picked up Wilkie Collins's The Woman In White many, many years ago under the misinformed assumption that it was a Victorian horror story. (I may also have mixed it up with Susan Hill's The Woman In Black...) How wrong I was. After the titular woman in white appeared and after it was certainly established that she was a very real human being, I put the book away with such disappointment that I think I've lost my original copy.

Fast forward to the present, I have developed a better taste for classic literature and wanted to revisit The Woman In White even if it may not involve supernatural beings. I started with listening to the free audiobook from LibriVox and got so caught up in the narrative that I had to continue with the book. This time, I was very far from disappointed!

The first thing I noticed about this book is the amount of foreshadowing and suspense used. According to Wikipedia, “it is considered to be among the first mystery novels and is widely regarded as one of the first in the genre of sensation novels”, so perhaps it was the first novel that used foreshadowing in the way that we commonly associate it with today. It's a novel told from the first-person perspective of many different characters (all somewhat unreliable narrators) in the story, and usually written at a later date, so the characters always refer to some mysterious unknown later event like: “Thank God I agreed, after what would happen later.” It made me want to just skip to the ending and find out what happened, but I persevered.

This book takes a while to warm up, though. The half, I would say, is spent mostly in expositing background story, establishing characters and just paving the way for the excitement that was to come. I don't know if it will be to everyone's tastes, but I enjoyed it. This is my first time reading a novel by Wilkie Collins and I'm rather taken in by his writing style. It's humourous, it's satirical and it's powerful in terms of evoking emotions. Once you pass the halfway mark and when things start coming to a head, however, the book becomes a real page-turner. I took about 1.5 weeks to get through the first half (mostly by audiobook when I'm driving), and less than 2 days to finish the second half. In fact, I have to confess that I stayed up till 6.45am this morning just trying my utmost best to finish the book because I want to find out the damned ending!! (In the end, I gave up and went to bed, but finished it the next day at about 6pm)

Of the characters, my favourite has got to be Marian Halcombe. I was rooting for her from the very beginning, though Walter Hartright (our first and main narrator) described her as looking almost like a man. She is the heroine of the book, through and through. Although the mystery and adventure centers around her pretty half-sister Laura Fairlie's interests, I felt not even half as much interest in her. Laura Fairlie came across to me as a bit of a Mary-Sue, and I would even go so far as to feel that she was a little dim-witted. The two characters that got on my nerves the most were Mr. Frederick Fairlie, Laura's rich uncle, and Sir Percival Glyde. In Mr. Fairlie's case, he is one of the most self-centered characters I've come across in a while. Other malevolent characters may also act purely in their own self-interest, but for Mr. Fairlie, he is both indolent and self-centered, which meant that he doesn't act for anything at all. Somehow, that irritates me even more than active malevolence. At least in a book. As for Sir Percival, to list out his wrongdoings might be to spoil the plot a little so I won't do so here. Suffice it to say that he's the worst sort of coward.

On one hand, I would say that Marian Halcombe presented an interestingly feminist portrayal of a woman. In the Victorian times, the “ideal” woman would be someone like Laura Fairlie - pretty, somewhat empty-headed and can't do anything to save herself. Marian Halcombe is none of these things. She is confident, intelligent, affectionate and also incredibly resourceful and courageous in adversity. This portrayal is probably why I always found myself firmly in #TeamMarian, but yet the way she kept belittling her own sex and being described by others as “being like a man” or “looking like a man” disturbed me a little. She would keep saying, “even though I am a helpless woman”, “even those these hands are a woman's”, etc. as if to acknowledge that she is frustrated with being a woman and feels restricted by her own gender. I would like to see a woman who is comfortable with herself and her gender, and then to be independent by her own right, and not because she resembles a man, but I guess I have to make allowances for the time that this book was written, and the fact that the author was a man.

For a Marian Halcombe with an arguably feminist portrayal of a woman, there are always the Laura Fairlies and the Madame Foscos that reverse this feminist portrayal. Laura is pretty much always helpless, relying either on Marian or Walter Hartright to save the day. Madame Fosco, meanwhile, went from being a headstrong, opinionated and outspoken girl with feminist ideas that Laura and Marian remember from their childhood (she is Laura's aunt), to being a completely submissive wife with literally no mind of her own. She always looks to her husband for instructions and is completely at her husband's disposal and leisure. Neither kith nor kin had any hold on her if her husband said to the contrary.

I found the ending of the book satisfying, though I have read reviews from people who found it rather anticlimactic. However, keeping in mind the social context in which the book was written, I would say that the Secret is sufficiently shocking enough in that time and era, even if it may not be so today.

I also read someone on Goodreads saying that Wilkie Collins is a double-edged author. If The Woman In White doesn't get you, The Moonstone will. Well, I have already purchased The Moonstone in readiness, as well as No Name. I can't wait to dig into more of his work!

Spoiler section:
I was incredibly frustrated with the Walter/Laura love-line. I can find no basis for such deep and lasting affection besides Laura being such a pretty young thing. I suppose I am affected and influenced by our modern ways and mindsets, as well as my own slight dislike for Laura. I confess I was rooting for a change in the wind and the ending to become Walter/Marian, but I wasn't optimistic. Fidelity in mind and in action was utmost in Victorian novels, and since Walter had carried his flame for Laura for a whole year despite his self-imposed exile to Central America, I knew it was hardly likely that he would suddenly change his object to Marian instead (unless Laura died - but even then, that's doubtful). Even more so in the last third of the book, when Walter and Marian are engaging in all these secret to-dos to bring down their enemies, they were so reliant and dependent on each other, they understood each other so perfectly, while Laura was basically treated (and enjoyed being treated) like a child. I was so frustrated!Laura had zero input in the entire adventure. The only few times she had a backbone and I had some semblance of respect for her was when she opposed Sir Percival in the signing of the legal document, and when she opposed him again in supposedly following Marian back to Limmeridge. It just struck me that Laura was actually incredibly like Anne Catherick, not just physically but also mentally as well. They described Anne as being half-witted and incredibly fixated on ideas once they got into her head. Perhaps Laura isn't quite as half-witted as Anne, but she never seemed to show any kind of quickness of wits or intelligence as Marian does. Also, Laura was incredibly devoted to Marian (the few times she opposed Sir Percival was either instigated by Marian, or for her own concern about her) as well as to Walter, much like how Anne was devoted to Mrs. Fairlie even though she had only met her briefly once, and forever wore white simply because Mrs. Fairlie had said she looked nice in it. So I guess Laura and Anne actually shared more similarities than simply the physical resemblance that was acknowledged in the book.Regarding Sir Percival's shameful secret, I tried to imagine it in a modern context: a CEO who got his position by forging his credentials. A current reigning monarch (enjoying riches and taxes from the people) discovered to be an illegitimate child and having forged his/her parents' wedding certificate to claim the throne. Seeing as the aristocracy back then were always well-off and lived in the lap of luxury without doing a day's work in their lives, and how Sir Percival had claimed his place amongst this class by illegal means, I can see how and why this Secret would've been seen as a shocking one at the time the book was published.

Originally published on Unravellations.

I absolutely loved this book. It is one of the best novels I have ever read and I have handed it off to the next reader already knowing that I should like to read it again one day.

I loved the way the author used various narrators rather than one to unveil the intricacies of the whole story. I loved that he kept me guessing the whole time and that I was actually able to experience the thrill of not knowing what was going to happen (a rare treat for me). It was difficult to put the book down! I kept wanting to read just another section (and another, and another???).

The characters were each brilliant; the storytelling exceptional. Uncle Fairlie was my favorite. His account made me laugh aloud as I read.

I highly recommend this story. I have already picked up a second work by Wilkie Collins and am looking forward to diving into it.

I love the way we follow the investigation step by step. The main characters are good people and the bad guys get theirs in the end. The story arc might be traditional, but the details of the crimes and justice are page turning. Listening to it was better than reading it physically, so I enjoyed my second read more than the first read.

I have read The Woman in White once, listened to it read on the Phoebe Reads a Mystery podcast, and now I've listened to the audiobook version. I can say that this audiobook is my favorite experience of this book, largely due to the narrator, Ian Holm. 

The story is set in 1850 in England. An heiress, who is orphaned and dependent on a self-absorbed uncle who just wants her to go away. Her half-sister is the other resident of the house, into which comes an art teacher. The art teacher and the heiress fall in love, and so of course he must leave because she is betrothed to a baronet. He seems quite attentive an kind at first. All is not what it seems, however. She receives a mysterious letter warning her about her fiancé, but she is too honorable to back out of the arrangement. What happens next is a suspenseful story of 2 women trying to save themselves in a time and place where they have no agency. 

Ian Holm is a delightful narrator for this story. In particular, his portrayal of the awful uncle is genius. The book is long (670+ pages; audio 24+ hours), but worth the time if you enjoy period suspense.

Walter meets a mysterious woman in white when he first arrives in town to become an art instructor at Limmeridge House. He later is told that the woman, Ann, has escaped from a lunatic asylum, and he notes that she bears a strong resemblance to his pupil, Laura. Walter and Laura soon fall in love, though Laura is engaged to Sir Percival Glyde. Glyde and Laura marry, and the real troubles begin.

The Woman in White is considered to be one of the earliest mystery novels.

Was this book worth my time? Yes, but only if it aids in helping most others to stay away from it.

I enjoyed the framework of the storyline, and, with more brief narrative, would have enjoyed it much more. The length of this story is well justified, though not by the woven strands of plot. Rather, the justification of its length is derived in the circumstances of the story's original publication. Interestingly enough, the history of this work of fiction is far more interesting than the work itself. Pieces of the storyline, which held the most notable weight, were absurdly underdeveloped.

Considered a “sensationalist” novel of the mid 19th century, this complex story of love, friendship, betrayal, tragedy, deviousness and heroism was highly entertaining. Set in the world of 19th century England, with its caste system, the many and varied characters that come and go throughout the twisting plotline bring life to the story.

Pressed upon me by my sister, recommended to me by my father, and doubly praised by my mother, The Woman in White, a classic of 19th century fiction, was deemed by T.S. Eliot to be “the first, the longest, and the best of modern English detective novels.” It's a fairly fat book (648 pages, small type). At first it took some work to get into the slower-paced rhythms of this book. But I stuck with it. And even though the happenings seemed to be few and far between, this book consistently held my interest. Somewhere around the halfway point I found myself looking forward to picking up the book for further reading. Then, about two-thirds of the way in, events kicked into high gear and the suspense was sustained through to the finish.

The plot behind The Woman in White concerns the fates of two sisters, a true love, a despicable husband, a conniving, corpulent Count and various other personages. Much of the fun in reading this book is trying to guess at the connections and motives of the various characters and wondering where certain events are leading. Mysteries encountered earlier in the story are explained later and the result is a satisfying, if somewhat long-winded read. Published in 1860, The Woman in White was a sensation in its day and the author was as well known as his friend Charles Dickens. Collins himself was an interesting character who “braved Victorian morals by living with one mistress and maintaining another in a separate establishment.” He died in 1889.

I was in the mood for a classic work and The Woman in White was an agreeable choice. The events in this story bring to mind the kind of evil, gloomy atmosphere that is reminiscent of the writings and drawings of Edward Gorey and his fanciful depictions of Victorian characters committing dastardly deeds by dark of night.

This was written in 1859 and considered to be one of the first mystery novels of its time. The story unfolds through a series of documents/witness statements held by a variety of characters designed to elucidate a conspiracy plan against innocent women. This novel is very long and written in the Victorian era so stamina is required unless you are used to reading classic literature.

I really enjoyed this book and was surprised by the complex story line which included mystery, suspense and romance. I could identify with the characters and found links to the present day, which is surprising having been written decades ago. I found the different genres throughout the novel (documents, witness statements etc) added a unique feel to the novel which I really enjoyed.