From the bookshelf of Victorians!…

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

Start date: October 1, 2009

Finish date: November 30, 2009

Discussion: Victorian Group Read Discussions

Discussion leader: Boof

Why we're reading this: This book has been chosen as our Oct/Nov group read
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group discussions about this book

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Victorian Group Read Discussions

June read winner!
By Boof, Moderator — 61 posts (61 new) — 121 views — last updated May 29, 2009 11:45AM

August Group Winner!
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October Nominations
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December / January Group Read
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Charles Dickens - The Seven Poor Travellers
By Boof, Moderator — 1 post (1 new) — 4 views — last updated 3 days ago, 02:42AM

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Charles Dickens - A Christmas Tree
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Charles Dickens - The Haunted Man & The Ghosts Bargain
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Charles Dickens - A Christmas Carol
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Charles Dickens - A Christmas Episode from Master Humphreys Clock
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Charles Dickens - The Story of the Goblins who Stole a Sexton
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By Boof, Moderator — 2 posts (2 new) — 19 views — last updated 2 days ago, 05:56PM

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what members thought

Jun 17, 2007

Rebecca rated it:

(review of isbn 009951124X)

bookshelves: classics

Read in March, 2009

The sensation yarn of the 19th C. Quivering heroines 'n' moustache twirling villainy. Larks include gender subversion 'n' narrative innovation. Identity theft labourious endeavour pre digital age. A modern reimagining would be brief.

Ironically, have been on phone to passport office today. Mine's missing. Somewhere an Oompah Loompah is manoeuvring under my name.

*infiltrates factory*

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21 comments

Jul 23, 2008

Elizabeth rated it:

bookshelves: classics, england, englishmajorbooks, fiction

Owns a copy — Read in June, 2009

recommended to Elizabeth by: Hannah
recommends it for: Courtney

Well...I finally finished this novel. It felt like it took forever, particularly because it got so scary that I needed a little break from time to time.

All in all, I was pleased with it. I enjoyed the colorful parade of narrators that take turns moving the story forward and I think that Collins, in classic Victorian verbosity, can spin a decent yarn.

Apparently this is considered to be the world's first suspense novel and Wilkie Collins was a contemporary and friend of ...more

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2 comments

Jul 19, 2007

Helen rated it:

(review of isbn 0140620249)

bookshelves: classics

Read in December, 2006

I first read The Woman in White in 2006 – it was the first Wilkie Collins book I ever read and the one that turned me into a huge fan of his work. I just wish I had discovered him sooner!

I won't go into the plot in too much detail, as I don't want to spoil the fun for those of you who haven't read it yet. The story begins with drawing master Walter Hartright's meeting on a lonely London road with a mysterious woman dressed all in white who has escaped from an Asylum. The next day W...more I first read The Woman in White in 2006 – it was the first Wilkie Collins book I ever read and the one that turned me into a huge fan of his work. I just wish I had discovered him sooner!

I won't go into the plot in too much detail, as I don't want to spoil the fun for those of you who haven't read it yet. The story begins with drawing master Walter Hartright's meeting on a lonely London road with a mysterious woman dressed all in white who has escaped from an Asylum. The next day Walter takes up a teaching position at Limmeridge House in Cumberland where he finds that one of his students, Laura Fairlie, bears a striking resemblance to the woman in white...

The novel follows an epistolary style, meaning it is narrated by several different characters in turn. I love the way Collins gives each of his narrators a unique 'voice' - he really makes the characters come alive. Another thing I love about Wilkie Collins' writing is his sense of humour...some of the scenes involving Laura's hypochondriac uncle Mr Fairlie are hilarious!

Marian Halcombe, Laura Fairlie's sister, is one of my favourite female characters in literature. Contrary to the usual portrayal of 19th century women, she is a brave, intelligent, courageous person who on several occasions puts herself in danger in order to protect her sister Laura. Another great character is Count Fosco. One of the most unusual and memorable villains I've ever encountered in any book, he's an old, fat, opera-loving Italian completely devoted to his pet canaries and white mice. I remember being surprised when I first read the description of Fosco, as he wasn't what I had been expecting at all!

The Woman in White is an example of the genre known as sensation fiction - including elements such as forgery, identity theft and insanity. Although it was written in the 19th century it's as exciting and gripping as a modern day thriller - even when reading the book for the second time and knowing what was going to happen! It's a long book but there's enough tension and suspense to keep the reader interested right through to the end. There are some classics that are a struggle to read but you persevere with them simply because they're classics and you feel as if you should. The Woman in White does not fall into that category - yes, it's a classic but it's also one of the most readable and enjoyable books I've ever read.(less)

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Feb 12, 2009

Cynthia rated it:

Read in January, 1993

Famously, one of the first ever detective stories (and a ghost story as well). It moves slowly, like all books of this period, but is a wonderful story, told well.

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Aug 25, 2008

Kate rated it:

Read in September, 2008

SPOILER WARNING!

The thing that nearly ruined this book for me was the inability of Laura Fairlie's nearest and dearest to distinguish her from Anne Catherick towards the end of the book. The idea that neither Frederick Fairlie nor any of the members of his household could recognize her after so short an absence was relatively ludicrous. I did my best to "suspend my disbelief" and managed to forgive Collin's by the end of the story.

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