The Dead Secret by Wilkie Collins (hosted by Lori) > Likes and Comments
Welcome to our first read of the Ghost, Ghouls and Gothic Year at Dickensians! We will be starting with The Dead Secret by Wilkie Collins.
Where to Find a Copy of The Dead SecretIf you can get your hands on a nice, used copy of the Oxford World’s Classics edition The Dead Secret, this is the edition I am reading from. I read this on kindle and in book form and really loved the way the book is laid out. I usually don’t mind and do love reading on my kindle and if you decide to read an ebook format, just note that the page counts listed on the schedule will not match.
Free online versions are found at:
Internet Archive - https://archive.org/details/deadsecre...
Project Gutenberg - https://www.gutenberg.org/files/43092...
The Literature Network - https://www.online-literature.com/wil...
For an audio version see LibriVox - https://librivox.org/the-dead-secret-...
Our Reading ScheduleWe begin our read and the start of the Ghosts, Ghouls, and Gothic Year on Friday, January 16. Chapter reading will begin on Monday, January 19.
Here is the schedule for The Dead Secret.
16-18 Jan: Introductory background information
Book I
19 Jan: Chapter I The Twenty-Third of August, 1829 (14 pgs)
20 Jan: Chapter II The Child (5 pgs)
21 Jan: Chapter III The Hiding of the Secret (9 pgs)
22 Jan: Free day
Book II
23 Jan: Chapter I Fifteen Years After (14 pgs)
24 Jan: Chapter II The Sale of Porthgenna Tower (12 pgs)
25 Jan: Chapter III The Bride and the Bridegroom (16 pgs)
26 Jan: Free day
Book III
27 Jan: Chapter I Timon of London (13 pgs)
28 Jan: Chapter II Will They Come? (5 pgs)
29 Jan: Chapter III Mrs. Jazeph (11 pgs)
30 Jan: Free day
31 Jan: Chapter IV The New Nurse (22 pgs)
1 Feb: Chapter V A Council of Three (7 pgs)
2 Feb: Chapter VI Another Surprise (8 pgs)
3 Feb: Free day
Book IV
4 Feb: Chapter I A Plot Against the Secret (16 pgs)
5 Feb: Chapter II Outside the House (15 pgs)
6 Feb: Chapter III Inside the House (17 pgs)
7 Feb: Free day
8 Feb: Chapter IV Mr. Munder on the Seat of Judgment (15 pgs)
9 Feb: Chapter V Mozart Plays Farewell (15 pgs)
10 Feb: Free day
Book V
11 Feb: Chapter I An Old Friend and a New Scheme (8 pgs)
12 Feb: Chapter II The Beginning of the End (9 pgs)
13 Feb: Chapter III Approaching the Precipice (12 pgs)
14 Feb: Free day
15 Feb: Chapter IV Standing on the Brink (9 pgs)
16 Feb: Chapter V The Myrtle Room (16 pgs)
17 Feb: Chapter VI The Telling of the Secret (10 pgs)
18 Feb: Free day
Book VI
19 Feb: Chapter I Uncle Joseph (15 pgs)
20 Feb: Chapter II Waiting and Hoping (16 pgs)
21 Feb: Chapter III The Story of the Past (16 pgs)
22 Feb: Free day
23 Feb: Chapter IV The Close of Day (17 pgs)
24 Feb: Chapter V Forty Thousand Pounds (9 pgs)
25 Feb: Chapter VI The Dawn of a New Life (3 pgs)
26-28 Feb: Wrap-Up Discussion
You can see the page lengths vary but the length of the chapters are doable and this is a very readable novel. With a break in reading, we should be able to move right along very well together and the pacing shouldn't feel heavy for you.
If you'd like to read a little background on Wilkie Collins before we start, you can see the post from my lead of The Frozen Deep hereOtherwise, I'm really looking forward to seeing you here on January 16!
I look forward to participating. I purchased my Nook book from Barnes & Noble, as I also read only with Nook or Kindle apps on my iPad. The publisher is Sonnet Books and it was very inexpensive — one dollar.I’ve never read Collins so I am interested to see what this experience will be like.
I have been wanting to read some more Collins. I think I have this book but I was confused when I saw novella up top. I think it must be the same book.
Glad to see both of you joining, John and Theresa. John, you can't beat that price!! I'm so excited for you to read your first Collins with the group!!
Theresa, it's definitely a novel and not a novella. My copy runs roughly 360 pgs and you see we have 29 chapters to read.
I think you both are going to enjoy this one!
I will be joining in and it's my first Collins also! I borrowed a copy from the library. Thank you for leading us, Lori.
Lori wrote: "Glad to see both of you joining, John and Theresa. John, you can't beat that price!! I'm so excited for you to read your first Collins with the group!!
Theresa, it's definitely a novel and not a..."
Thank you Lori. It will be my third novel by him and I am very excited.
I was very excited that you picked a Collins that I have not already read, Lori. I'm definitely in!
My book has already arrived and I'm looking forward to the read, Lori.
I think I will be joining in with this read. So many interesting subjects ahead.Lori, thanks for the link to the edition you like. I had difficulty finding anything but the most basic with no introduction or information. Your link was great.
I've ordered my copy from the library, and looking forward to joining in.
I, too, will be joining in on this one. I will be reading the Delphi Classics edition on my Kobo ereader. Theresa, I, too, was confused by the discrepancy between the "novella" designation and the page count when I looked the book up online. I thought maybe the edition I was looking at must have a very long introduction or other extras. : )
Katy wrote: "I, too, will be joining in on this one. I will be reading the Delphi Classics edition on my Kobo ereader. Theresa, I, too, was confused by the discrepancy between the "novella" designation and th..."
😄 I thought maybe there was two versions.
I'm in! This will be my first Wilkie Collings novel. Looking forward to it!
I’ll be joining in but unsure if I’ll be able to start on time.
Kelly wrote: "I will be joining in and it's my first Collins also! I borrowed a copy from the library. Thank you for leading us, Lori."How exciting Kelly! Another Collins newbie!
Sara wrote: "I was very excited that you picked a Collins that I have not already read, Lori. I'm definitely in!"I’m thrilled you are coming along with us, Sara!!
Connie wrote: "My book has already arrived and I'm looking forward to the read, Lori."Fantastic that you can join in, Connie!! I look forward to having you here.
Sue wrote: "I think I will be joining in with this read. So many interesting subjects ahead.Lori, thanks for the link to the edition you like. I had difficulty finding anything but the most basic with no intr..."
I was so pleased to have the extras in my edition. Just try not to read the preface or introductions until after we finish!! Great to have you here, Sue!
Carolien wrote: "I've ordered my copy from the library, and looking forward to joining in."It will be a great experience reading this early book of Collins’ together. Welcome to the read, Carolien!
Katy wrote: "I, too, will be joining in on this one. I will be reading the Delphi Classics edition on my Kobo ereader. Theresa, I, too, was confused by the discrepancy between the "novella" designation and th..."
I saw that edition, Katy. Does it have illustrations? There aren’t many to be found for this novel and my research shows the Delphi version is illustrated.
Glad to have you with us!!
Bridget wrote: "I'm in! This will be my first Wilkie Collings novel. Looking forward to it!"Bridget, wow we have quite a group of Collins newbies which will be so much fun for you all!! Welcome to your first!!
Janelle wrote: "I’ll be joining in but unsure if I’ll be able to start on time."It will be fabulous to read with you again, Janelle! It will be ok whenever you start. You’ll have no problem catching up if you need to.
Lori wrote: "Katy wrote: "I, too, will be joining in on this one. I will be reading the Delphi Classics edition on my Kobo ereader. Theresa, I, too, was confused by the discrepancy between the "novella" desig..."
Lori, I paged through the first few chapters. It does not seem to have illustrations.
I just ordered my Oxford Classics copy as you suggested, Lori, and I'll be joining in with this party you've gathered together. LOL. I'm really looking forward to it. It's been several years since I read The Woman in White, my only experience with Collins' writing, and it was an unforgettable read.
Shirley (stampartiste) wrote: "I just ordered my Oxford Classics copy as you suggested, Lori, and I'll be joining in with this party you've gathered together. LOL. I'm really looking forward to it. It's been several years since ..."Yay! Shirley! We’ve got a fantastic crowd forming here, don’t we?!? Welcome to the party, as you say!!😃
The Woman in White is phenomenal. You may be able to see his growth from this book to his big masterpiece.
Lori wrote: "Sue wrote: "I think I will be joining in with this read. So many interesting subjects ahead.Lori, thanks for the link to the edition you like. I had difficulty finding anything but the most basic ..."
Lori, thanks for the reminder. I actually wasn’t sure given how the read for this book begins with 3 days dedicated to “Introduction”. I was wondering if the book introduction was to be read or not.
Oh Sue! I’m sorry for that confusion and lack of clarification on the schedule. I’ll make a note change on the schedule. Intro was just me giving us some time for the posts that are introductory from me. I’d definitely save reading the introductions in your copies until afterward. Thanks for your comment.
As a brief aside, the novelist Dan Simmons wrote Drood, which has both Dickens and Collins as characters. It is a nightmarish mystery, according to the blurbs. I have the book and will eventually read it.
John, didn’t Dan Simmons also write The Terror which was based on the lost Franklin expedition? We covered this whole fascinating topic in The Frozen Deep two years ago. I remember watching the tv program based on that book and it was scary. I imagine Drood is like you say, nightmarish!Simmons obviously has a love for Collins and Dickens!
Yes, Dan Simmons wrote The Terror! I read it last year and just recommended it to a patron today. My husband and I watched the show after I read the book. Very scary, yes, but the book is so much better (as usual).
I do enjoy scary novels so I will have to check out Drood. I’ve heard of it but didn’t realize the Dickens and Collins connections.
Drood sounds like a novel that could be excellent for a future read, especially if we move up to ghosts and goblins of current authors that have Dickens and Collins as characters. See the write up below:Increasingly obsessed with crypts, cemeteries, and the precise length of time it would take for a corpse to dissolve in a lime pit, Dickens ceases writing for four years and wanders the worst slums and catacombs of London at night while staging public readings during the day, gruesome readings that leave his audiences horrified. Finally he begins writing what would have been the world’s first great mystery masterpiece, The Mystery of Edwin Drood.
Hoping to join as another newbie. Looking forward to it.
I’m looking forward to this read. Collins is a much under-rated and read novelist. What a great group to be with in the upcoming weeks.
Stephen and Peter - it’s so good to have to both join us! I’ve found in conversations with people that they know Dickens but mention Collins and their faces go blank!
I did have one instance where a recent high school graduate did not know Charles Dickens by name 🤦🏼♀️. I don’t want to know what her teachers taught. I was a bit sad about that.
Lori wrote: "Stephen and Peter - it’s so good to have to both join us! I’ve found in conversations with people that they know Dickens but mention Collins and their faces go blank!
I did have one instance wh..."
Wow! Makes you wonder if someone wasn't paying attention or teacher not doing job.
I'll be joining in on the reading and discussion. Unfortunately, I will be without internet access for twelve or so days in the middle as our vacation spot does not include free internet. Boo! Hiss! I will keep up with the daily readings when gone and hope to catch up with the discussion when we return home. That did not work out well with the MC read, but I'll try.I've only read his Woman in White and look forward to reading his Dead Secret. Thanks for agreeing to lead this discussion; I've wanted to read more Collins
John thanks for that description. Just imagine if Dickens had finished that book!
Kathleen, it will be wonderful to have you joining us! We’ll be here when you get back from your travels and wish you a very pleasant time!
I'm going to give it a try! Just located a book in the library and I think I can pick it up today. Looking forward to reading with a lot of people who don't know the ending. I am on the list of those who have only read The Woman in White.
Welcome to you, Julie! Great to have you here as well! We don't start chapter reading until Monday so you've still got a few days!
This is our first official day of the read and I'm just going to start with a little background information just to get us started. Saturday and Sunday will be a few more interesting posts I hope you'll enjoy to get us going. Reading starts Monday with Chapter 1!!
A little background infoThe Dead Secret is Wilkie Collins’s fourth published novel and his first full length novel to be written specifically for serialization. It was first serialized in Charles Dickens’ Household Words from 3 January- 13 June 1857 with 23 installments. Later the same year it would be published in book form by Bradbury & Evans.
The Dead Secret has been called the last of Wilkie Collins’ apprentice novels and can be considered one of the earliest examples of sensation novels.
Collins’ next book in 1860 would be his first major success, The Woman in White.
Collins presents the “secret” and the mystery to the reader clearly early on, which he was criticized for. However, the characters do not know the secret. There are other criticisms that we can consider as we read.
Several of the characters in The Dead Secret are reminiscent of later characters he would create.
Collins was interested in daring topics that challenged social behavior, and he often utilized domestic crime or bohemian artistic characters. In The Dead Secret we will see his interest in false inheritance, fallen women, and mistaken identity. According to the introduction in the Oxford World’s Classics edition, Collins wrote this novel to show the influence of a heavy responsibility on a naturally timid woman, whose mind was neither strong enough to bear it, nor bold enough to drop it altogether.
The novel takes place mostly in Cornwall, one of Collins’s favorite English counties.
Dickens and CollinsCollins met Dickens in March 1851 when Collins had just published a travel account of Cornwall, Rambles Beyond Railways. Dickens was 12 years older and reeling in the success of David Copperfield. Dickens invited Collins to play a part in his production of Not So Bad As We Seem by Bulwer-Lytton and a friendship quickly developed. Collins was very interested in theatre at this time, but journalism is what paid his bills rather than playwriting – contributing to Household Words and other magazines.
A French essay published in 1855 provided Collins with some advice: he should curb the optimism of his invention, develop more psychologically penetrating characters, and stop imitating the style of Dickens. It was the 1860s that Collins tried to separate his writing from Dickens’s. The Dead Secret is a transitional novel in the process marking a change from a fiction entirely dependent on setting, melodrama, and eccentrics to one focusing on suspense, locale, and psychological aberration.
In 1856, Collins joined Dickens in the spring in Paris while Dickens had gone there to work on Little Dorrit. While in Paris, Collins began to work out the plot of The Dead Secret—which Dickens thought the most exciting and successful of his works to date.
In August of 1856, Collins and Dickens began working together on a new play, The Frozen Deep. An interesting note on this is Collins’s memorialization of his involvement with The Frozen Deep being seen in his attachment to the name Franklin (of the famous expedition to find the Northwest Passage). Collins names a character Leonard Frankland in The Dead Secret and another Franklin Blake in The Moonstone.
September 1856, Collins is offered a position on the staff of Household Words but he only agreed if his next novel was serialized under his own name. He joins the staff.
It was during a busy time of theater performances of The Frozen Deep that Collins was writing The Dead Secret which began to appear weekly on 3 January 1857. Advertised in the magazine with Collins’ name, this was not done for any other contributor except Dickens. It can be said that Collins’s theatrical involvements appear throughout The Dead Secret.
Victorian Sensation NovelsVictorian Sensation Novels have been defined as “a novel with a secret.” They were popular between the mid 1850s and 1890s and known for shocking domestic plots and taboo topics. They were set in ordinary, familiar homes rather than Gothic castles which aided in an even more unsettling atmosphere. According to Wikipedia, its literary forbears were melodramatic novels and Newgate novels (tales centered around criminal biographies).
Where romance and realism had traditionally been contradictory modes of literature, they were brought together in sensation fiction. The abstract nature of the stories allowed authors to explore common social anxieties of the time.
The phenomenon of the sensation novel, according to the Victorian Web, would include such characteristics as bigamous marriages, poisons or potions, disguised characters, suspenseful situations such as physical danger. They have complicated plots, are set in modern times, and are reliant on coincidences, with plots hinging on murder and madness. They exploited the fear that respectable Victorian families had of hidden, dark secrets and explored the woman’s role in the family oftentimes challenging Victorian ideals of women. There is a pre-occupation with the law —wills, inheritance, divorce and women’s rights over property and child custody. They are emotional dramas about obsessive and disturbed mental states, with villains hiding behind respectable fronts, and bold assertive women, as well as passive, powerless and compliant women.
Several changes in the mid 1800s began to emerge that brought about the popularity of Sensation fiction including an increase in printing (the stamp duty on printing paper was abolished in 1855) as well as increased literacy rates due to circulating libraries. Newspapers were increasingly circulated and periodicals like Charles Dickens’ Household Words were publishing serialized versions of novels and people became interested in notorious court trials. More people were reading during this time.
Wilkie Collins is often cited as the first author of sensation novels emerging in the 1860s but because of the genre beginning to fade out by the 1870s Collins and the genre are very often overlooked in the larger literary canon.
The Woman in White is typically considered Collins’ first sensation as well as detective novel. The Dead Secret blends many elements of sensation novels: Gothic suspense, mystery, melodrama and social commentaries dealing with illegitimacy and inheritance. The novel features shocking domestic secrets and suspenseful plots, dark family histories as well as exploring women’s roles and property rights in Victorian society. The atmosphere and setting provide eerie and unsettling landscapes.
Captioned "The Novelist who invented Sensation", caricature of Wilkie Collins in Vanity Fair, 3 February 1872
Thanks Lori for the excellent background information. I was not familiar with the term sensation novel. I was reminded, in a way, of Our Mutual Friend because I recall at some point in the novel Dickens divulged an important secret to the reader. I remember thinking this is odd. Why tell us this now, with so much left in the novel to get to? So I think having a grounding in this characteristic of some novels at the time is helpful.
Lori will be leading this novel between 16th January and 28th February 2026.
**PLEASE ALLOW LORI TO COMMENT FIRST. Thanks