The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion
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Wyllard's Weird
Mary E. Braddon Collection
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Wyllard's Weird - Vol II, Ch 1 to end of Vol II, Ch 5 (A Face From The Grave)
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The case against Julian certainly seems to be strengthened in this section. As you point out, Frances, cracks are appearing in his marriage and the trip to Paris seems suspicious. I still harbor some doubts but I can’t think of anyone else who fits the facts so well. I’ve started to think the lawyer Distin might have something to do with the mystery or at least knows more than he is letting on. There may be another reason why he is hesitant to push the investigation. We think it’s because he suspects Bothwell but maybe he really suspects Julian?The relationship between Hilda and Bothwell is interesting. Bothwell’s actions parallel Dora’s in the sense that they both had to break prior promises in order to attach themselves to new loves. All the characters’ actions in love reflect on their honor. Julian was willing to court a woman with a fiancé, Bothwell attached himself to a married woman immaturely. And the love of Julian for Dora as opposed to Heathcote’s love for her is compared. I found it a bit amusing when Julian tells Dora that a husband’s love is more practical than a lover’s. But when Heathcote is walking with Dora in Paris, he thinks of the more mature love he could offer her that youth is incapable of. And Hilda shows strength of character in her devotion to Bothwell. Although I’m not sure how to take the fact that Bothwell can’t do the right thing on his own until he has the love of another woman to give him motivation.
Continues to be a very interesting book with suspicion and conflicting motives among a small cast of characters enhancing the murder mystery.
What I find enjoyable is Heathcote’s role as detective. He is rational, tracking down evidence to reach conclusions. As contrasted with the more sensationalist themes which I associated with Braddon after reading Lady Audley’s secret. The sensationalism in this novel correlates well with passion and high emotion in the characters. I agree with Julian becoming a likely candidate, especially after Heathcote discovers the hidden door in Julian’s Paris bedroom. Also, Julian’s lack of interest in any discussion of the murder, his “mistake” about the time of the train to Saint Germaine, and the reason for his and Dora’s current trip to Paris. Despite his apparent disinterest, Heathcote does notice Julian’s intensity when he discusses his investigation. But we’re kept off kilter by the description of Georges as American living on his inheritance.
I like both Bothwell and Hilda. Bothwell despite his inappropriate alliance with Valeria has the integrity not to pursue Hilda till he’s broken off with Valeria. He also recognizes he betrayed the General by his behavior and is truly remorseful. Julian, on the other hand, outright pursued Dora while she was engaged to Heathcote and he has no guilty feelings about that. Bothwell is turning his life around, but I can’t believe there won’t be some additional obstacles for him and Hilda.
I think one of the themes of the book can be the impact of passionate love on a person. Does it lead to dishonorable behavior or worse or to something better such as Heathcote’s determination to find out the truth for Dora’s sake or the building of a new life as is the case with Bothwell and his love for Hilda.
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I admire Heathcote's determination to get all the facts regarding the murder of the actress and the death of her niece. The action in this book is more focussed than in Lady Audley's Secret, so far.
I think Hilda and Bothwell will still have to face some obstacles before the end of the book--which hopefully has a happy ending for them.
The more I read, the more the case looks bad for Julian. In my heart, I'm convinced that he has some hand in the double murder. His sudden arrival in Paris casts suspicion on him. There is some secret that he wishes to hide. Otherwise why would he be annoyed at Dora's wish to see his old lodgings. Perhaps he had lived a double life.As Frances mentioned, Julian's interest in the investigations sounds very false. His tone and manner shows that. He is only interested to discover what Heathcote have found. He certainly seems afraid of something.
I view the story of Bothwell and Hilda as a subplot, separate from the main mystery story to instill more intrigue. Of course, this sub plot is closely inter-connected with the main story, but all the same it is a fresh and separate story.
For many pages now the reader has been taken into suspecting Julian. We are only at half book. If he is actually the murder, is it too soon, I wonder? I think I have to stop reading it as a whodunnit and enjoy the plot. Ok, it is him, let's discover how and why.
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Frances wrote: "Good point, Daniela. However as the mystery genre would have been in its infancy at this point, readers wouldn't necessarily expect a surprise ending, and writers might not stick to the convention ..."I think that's very true - the murder mystery as we know it didn't really get going until the 20th century and I don't think the modern convention of concealing the murderer's identity until the last chapter would necessarily apply here. Like other people I'm coming to the conclusion that Julian Wyllard must be the guilty party, so maybe the book should be read more as a whydunnit or a howdunnit rather than a whodunnit. Certainly there are mysteries still to be solved; like why was Leonie in Cornwall? Why did she seem to be on good terms with the man she met at Paddington Station?
I'm enjoying some of the characterisation in this novel - for instance, the depiction of the exotic socialite Trottier, and poor Mlle Beauville with her cockatoo. These characters come alive in a way that some of the other description doesn't: the scene-setting is often of the most cursory and cliched kind (it was a beautiful day, it was a lovely garden, etc etc). The author's main interest seems to have lain in character and motive.
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Agreed. Also, I was struck by how cosmopolitan both Wyllard and Heathcote are-despite living in Cornwall-which was quite remote even from London-they both have lived in london and Paris, speak French fluently and have made significant social connections in those cities.
Does anyone know of Braddon spent much time in Paris?
Julian has done quite a bit of sneering and short comebacks in this section for someone who has nothing to hide. And that secret door does not help him to look innocent. I agree that at this point I am assuming Julian is the murderer in both cases and now I'm curious to find out the how and why. With Julian and Dora visiting Paris, I admit that I was a bit afraid of another murder occurring. Thinking perhaps Heathcote is getting too close to the truth and that Julian would need to "take care of" him. While that doesn't look to be the case at this point, I'm not putting the idea out of my mind just yet. With
EDIT: Sorry, my mistake for thinking of the wrong couple above. But I think it still stands that if Heathcote were to come to his end, it would be a sad twist, especially given if Julian proves to be the murder it seems likely that Dora and Heathcote might find their way back together again.
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I’m enjoying the characters as well and would agree with the above comment about the cursor setting descriptions. I think that may have been intentional to make the plot feel more fast paced.
While mystery fiction was relatively new, I think twists were a standard even then. The twists, for me, are what makes these novels fun.
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I'm thinking that cockatoo is going to be important.
One thing: Is a man like Heathcote really likely to be friends with "Bohemians" such as Trottier? Seems a bit out of character for him. And a bit too convenient.
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I'm thinking that cockatoo is going to be important.
One thing: Is a man like He..."
Just going back over some old posts I missed-I also thought the cockatoo would be important-that it might repeat words that Julian had said and implicate him or something-I do read too many mysteries!
I also wondered that about Heathcote and Wyllard both-how could they have established such "Parisian" lives and connections, and particularly Heathcote as it wasn't clear he actually lived there for any length of time.
Bothwell and Hilda remain in communication and are making plans for their future. What do you think their characters' role in the novel is? Were they simply a very complicated device to get Heathcote to undertake the investigation? What do you think of Bothwell's plans for their future?
We see Heathcote continuing his investigations at some length, and learn that he himself is very comfortable in Paris, with friends and a good knowledge of the city. It appears that he would spend a week now and then in Paris after losing Dora, and that he made a number of good friends and became quite familiar with Parisian society. Would this have been common at the time-for an Englishman abroad to make friends in a foreign city (and not just of other English people)?
Later, Julian and Dora also make a trip to Paris, and we learn something about Julian's time in Paris-that he lived a secluded life concentrated on making money, and was there at the time of Marie Prevol's murder. His bedroom also had a direct door into and out of it. What do you think of Julian's description of his life in Paris, and why do you think he suggested this trip at this time?
Finally, some cracks are appearing in the seemingly blissful Wyllard marriage, and Julian's reactions to the investigation don't ring true.
We've now reached the half-way mark in the novel-please share your thoughts on this section and on the novel so far.