Wilkie Collins, página 7 de 32

Whether society should recognize a couple who, after being divorced, become reconciled, agree to forget their past difficulties and re-marry, is the question Mr. Collins tries to solve. The "evil genius "who makes all the mischief is the mother-in-law, who feels it is her duty to open her daughters eyes to her husbands admiration for the governess. The governess history takes up a good space in the opening chapters, and is full of interest. Her father is tried and found guilty of deliberately causing the loss of his ship in order to gain possession of a large package of diamonds. The trial, the unsuccessful attempt to find the stolen diamonds, the girls helpless condition, and so on are all told with the detail Mr. Collins has made specially his own. There is much dramatic power shown in the narrative.

It usually takes somebody already familiar with the piece or its author, or perhaps a bride-to-be who went a little too deep down the Google rabbit hole, to whip up much attention for a title like "The Woman in White". Yet thats not to say that those that let themselves be spirited away to the hot summer nights of 1850s Cumberland, North West England, arent in for a treat. A young artist has secured a position as a private teacher for a pair of fair ladies in the countryside, but on the night of his departure from London, a secretive and distressed woman clad all in white(!) crosses his path. He later discovers that shes an escaped mental patient and thus a gothic mystery of love, marriage, murder and greed unfolds.But dont just take our word for it a lot of people thought this book was the proverbial bomb, including the author himself, who figured hed never write anything better. Hence "The Woman in White" has been adapted for radio twice, for theatre a total of 5 times, for film and television 13 times and even became a computer game in 2010.

Surprisingly, not the true story about what happened to the other two after Beyoncé disbanded Destinys Child to pursue a solo career, "The Two Destinies" is a manageable little number about George and Mary star-crossed lovers from different social classes. The setting is mid-19th Century England a convenient Collins favourite.But before you glance at your copy of Pride & Prejudice, groan about this novel being yet another installment of a tired old trope and unpause "Bootylicious", keep reading because theres more! Old fortune-telling crones, transatlantic voyages, fat inheritances, malicious scandals, starving children, attempted suicides, spectres and disabled people the story is a hotpot of explosive adjectives and colourful nouns. For the period at least.A classic story with many twists and turns, some even of the supernatural variety, "The Two Destinies" is a short and sweet exploration of kindred spirits vs. societal hierarchies short enough that it can be finished during one sitting of Titanic (1997). And you already know how that one ends. In fact, youve known since 1912.

Perhaps Wilkie Collins editor thought "John Jagos Ghost" sounded too much like an exciting tale of cursed, swashbuckling pirates for the alternate title of this novella to end up on the cover and instead settled for "The Dead Alive" arguably the most balderdash title for a piece of fiction until the Sean Penn movie "Dead Man Walking" (1995). In the end though, the current title is somehow the more appropriate for this piece based on the infamous 1819 "Boorn Brothers" murder trial. An Englishmans fictional account of the first case of wrongful convictions in the history of The United States, the story centers around two brothers sentenced to death and life in prison respectively, for murdering their brother-in-law. However, the evidence is circumstantial, no body is found and how much does one brothers fiancee really know? The first legal thriller according to author and foreword writer Scott Turow, "The Dead Alive" serves you up a digestible platter of courtroom drama seasoned with that most delicious of spices: Based on true events.

Man and Wife Wilkie Collins - The novel has a complex plot, which is common in Collinss work.[3] In the Prologue, a selfish and ambitious man casts off his wife in order to marry a wealthier and better-connected woman by taking advantage of a loophole in the marriage laws of Ireland.The initial action takes place in the widowed Lady Lundies house in Scotland. Geoffrey Delamayn has promised marriage to his lover Anne Silvester (governess to Lady Lundies stepdaughter Blanche), who has incurred the enmity of her employer. The spendthrift Geoffrey is about to be disinherited and wishes to escape from his promise and marry a wealthy wife. Nevertheless, he is obliged to arrange a rendezvous with Anne, in the character of his wife, at an inn, and documents this in an exchange of notes with her. Subsequently, urgent matters force him to send his friend Arnold Brinkworth, Blanches fiance, to Anne in his place. To gain access to her, Arnold must ask for "his wife". Although nothing improper passes between them, they appear to the landlady and to Bishopriggs, a waiter, to be man and wife.Thus, both Geoffrey and Arnold might be deemed to be married to Anne, depending on the weight put on the spoken and written evidence. Most of the novel concerns Annes, Geoffreys and Arnolds attempts to clarify their marital status:Anne needs to be married to save her reputationGeoffrey wishes to cast off Anne by asserting that she is married to ArnoldArnold wishes to marry Blanche but fears he has accidentally already married Anne under Scots law.In subsequent chapters Geoffrey, a keen athlete, courts Mrs Glenarm, a wealthy young widow, while Anne consults lawyers who give her conflicting advice about her position, and later tries to explain the situation to Mrs Glenarm, who rebuffs her. Arnold seeks the advice of Lady Lundies brother-in-law Sir Patrick Lundie, a retired lawyer. Sir Patrick approaches the problem with energy, but owing to various mishaps, Geoffreys determination that his scheme shall succeed, and the unsatisfactory state of the law, is not immediately successful. However, he ascertains that the correspondence linking Geoffrey and Anne exists and was stolen at the inn by Bishopriggs, who tries to extort money for it. Anne, who strongly wishes to remove any impediment to Blanche and Arnolds marriage, comes to the same conclusion and forces Bishopriggs to give her the letter by threatening to reveal its contents, which would make it worthless for blackmail. Eventually Anne offers to reveal her relations with Geoffrey, even at the cost of her reputation impressing Sir Patrick with her courageous and honourable behaviour. At a meeting of all the parties and their lawyers, she makes her revelations. Geoffrey can no longer avoid honouring his promise to her and acknowledges her as his wife.A sub-plot concerns Geoffreys athleticism. While training for an important race, Geoffrey is discovered to have a serious physical ailment rendering him liable to a paralytic stroke. In the race itself, in which Geoffrey represents the South of England against the North, he collapses near the end, leaving his opponent the victor. His "friends" desert him, having lost their bets placed on him.

The Queen of Hearts Wilkie Collins - The Queen of HeartsCollins collection of 10 short stories with one connecting narrative: The Queen of Hearts, the school nickname of Jessie who is staying with her guardian. Griffith, a lawyer, lives with his two brothers, a clergyman and a doctor, in an isolated house in South Wales. Not all is as it seems, however, and love is in the air just to complicate matters.

La historia de amor entre dos jóvenes es el telón de fondo que el genio de Wilkie Collins utiliza en Corazón y ciencia para dar voz a su ataque contra la vivisección. El joven doctor Ovid Vere, el día antes de marcharse al extranjero, donde tiene que ir para recuperar su afectada salud, se topa casualmente, en una calle de Londres, con una atractiva mujer de la que se enamora a primera vista y que lo conduce a un concierto donde ella se desmaya. Después de ayudarla, en calidad de médico, descubre que se trata de Carmina Graywell, la prima hermana que, después de quedarse huérfana, había viajado de Italia a Inglaterra para ser educada por la madre del mismo Ovid (que persigue la herencia de su sobrina...).

Armadale Wilkie Collins - Armadale (1866) by Wilkie Collins is a 19th-century semi-epistolary novel. Some chapters consist of letters between the various characters, while other chapters record the events as the characters perceive them.The novel has a convoluted plot about two distant cousins both named Allan Armadale. The father of one had murdered the father of the other (the two fathers are also named Allan Armadale). The story starts with a deathbed confession by the murderer in the form of a letter to be given to his baby son when he grows up. Many years are skipped over. The son, mistreated at home, runs away from his mother and stepfather, and takes up a wandering life under the assumed name of Ozias Midwinter. He becomes a companion to the other Allan Armadale, who throughout the novel never discovers the relationship. But Ozias is constantly haunted by feeling that he might harm Allan, first after he reads the letter left for him, and then again after they spend the night on a shipwreck off the Isle of Man--the ship turning out to be the same on which the old murder took place (the murderer locked his victim in a cabin as the boat filled with water). On the boat, Allan has a mysterious dream involving three characters. This dream fills Ozias with foreboding, its three scenes becoming fulfilled in the course of the novel.

The Woman in White Wilkie Collins - The Woman in White is Wilkie Collinss fifth published novel, written in 1859. It is considered to be among the first mystery novels and is widely regarded as one of the first (and finest) in the genre of "sensation novels". It is arguably the authors masterpiece. A tale of love, marriage, betrayal and mistrust, the gripping story is unraveled through diaries, first-hand accounts, and different points of view. In 2003 The Observer listed The Woman in White number 23 in "the top 100 greatest novels of all time",and the novel was listed at number 77 on the BBCs survey The Big Read.

First serialized and then published as a book in 1860, Wilkie Collinss The Woman in White represents a seminal classic of English fiction. It is classified by some critics among mystery novels and by some others as a Gothic novel. The narratives structure is epistolary. It tells the story of a poor young art teacher named Walter Hartright who happens to see a strange apparition one evening as he is strolling through the streets of London. It is the unearthly figure of a woman dressed all in white and who seems to suffer from mental troubles. Later in the novel, while teaching at Limmeridge House, Walter discovers that his most beloved student named Laura has a striking resemblance to the mad woman that he has encountered. Despite the mutual love between the teacher and his student, the latter has to marry a noble man named Sir Percival Glyde to satisfy her fathers wishes. The readers then learn that the woman in white is Lauras half sister who was confined to a mental asylum and who eventually dies of a heart condition. Glyde does not really like Laura and wishes to steal her money. He conspires to send her to the mental asylum to replace her identical sister. Helped by her other sister Marian, Laura manages to flee the asylum and finally marry Walter after the accidental death of her wicked husband.

In Wilkie CollinsThe Travellers Story of a Very Strange Bed, readers are taken on a thrilling journey through a mysterious and suspenseful tale. Written in Collins trademark style of intricate plotting and vivid characterizations, this short story is a prime example of Victorian sensational fiction. The narrative is filled with unexpected twists and turns that keep the reader on the edge of their seat, making it a captivating and engaging read. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century England, the story explores themes of deception, greed, and fear, making it a timeless piece of literature that continues to captivate readers today. Wilkie Collins, known for his pioneering work in detective fiction, drew inspiration for this story from his own experiences and observations of society. His keen eye for detail and gift for storytelling shine through in The Travellers Story of a Very Strange Bed, showcasing his talent as a master storyteller. I highly recommend The Travellers Story of a Very Strange Bed to readers who enjoy suspenseful and intricately plotted tales. Wilkie Collins storytelling prowess and ability to keep readers guessing until the very end make this short story a must-read for fans of Victorian literature and mystery fiction.

CONTENTS:PHILIP K. DICK1. Adjustment TeamPHILIP K. DICK2. The Crystal CryptPHILIP K. DICK3. The Golden ManPHILIP K. DICK4. The Hanging StrangerWILKIE COLLINS5. The Anglers Story Of The Lady Of Glenwith GrangeRAFAEL SABATINI6. The Fools Love StoryRAFAEL SABATINI7. The PrizeO.HENRY8. The Phonograph and the GraftMAX PEMBERTON9. A Miracle of BellsMAX PEMBERTON10. The Risen DeadMAX PEMBERTON11. The Wolf of CismonMAX PEMBERTON12. Treasure of White Creek13. B. 24EDGAR ALLAN POE14. The Fall of the House of UsherEDGAR WALLACE15. The Man Who Lived at ClaphamEDGAR WALLACE16. The Man Who Hated Amelia JonesEDGAR WALLACE17. The Man Who Hated EarthwormsEDGAR WALLACE18. The Man Who Loved MusicEDGAR WALLACE19. The Man Who Was AcquittedEDGAR WALLACE20. The Man Who Was PluckedEDGAR WALLACE21. The Man Who Died TwiceEDGAR WALLACE22. The Man Who Would Not SpeakHENRY C. ROWLAND23. At the Break of the MonsoonHENRY C. ROWLAND24. At the Last of the EbbHENRY C. ROWLAND25. Back TracksHENRY C. ROWLAND26. In the China SeaHENRY C. ROWLAND27. In the WhaleboatHENRY C. ROWLAND28. Jordan Knapp, TraderHENRY C. ROWLAND29. Off LuzonHENRY C. ROWLAND30. Rosenthal the JewHENRY C. ROWLAND31. The MerleHENRY C. ROWLAND32. The Shears of AtroposHENRY C. ROWLAND33. The Treasure BoxHENRY C. ROWLAND34. Two GentlemenH.G. WELLS35. The Treasure in the ForestH.G. WELLS36. Through a WindowE.NESBIT37. John Charringtons WeddingALEXANDER PUSHKIN38. The Queen of SpadesSAX ROHMER39. The Zayat KissSAX ROHMER40. Breath of AllahSAX ROHMER41. Harun PashaSAX ROHMER42. In the Valley of the SorceressSAX ROHMER43. Lord of the JackalsSAX ROHMER44. Lure of SoulsSAX ROHMER45. Omar of IspahanSAX ROHMER46. Pomegranate FlowerSAX ROHMER47. The Call of SivaSAX ROHMER48. The Death-Ring of SneferuSAX ROHMER49. The Green MistSAX ROHMER50. The Lady of the Lattice

WILKIE COLLINS, autor de novelas memorables como LA PIEDRA LUNAR o LA DAMA DE BLANCO, escribió numerosas historias breves en las que abunda el terror y lo sobrenatural. En el inolvidable relato de LA DAMA DEL SUEÑO, Isaac Scatchard la noche anterior a sus 40 cumpleños sueña con una mujer de gran belleza intentando matarle con un cuchillo. Siete años despues conoce a Rebecca y se casa con ella sin el consentimiento de su anciana madre quien sabe que Rebecca es la dama del sueño. Algunos meses despues, Rebecca compra un enorme cuchillo y se convierte en la realidad en el mortal peligro anunciado en el sueño. El suspense constituye la mayor originalidad de estos relatos que enganchan al lector de la primera a la ultima pagina.

Una abadía incautada, un pasado inconfesable, un matrimonio fraudulento, una herencia disputada… Tras un trágico incidente que le atormenta sin descanso, el apuesto Lewis Romayne se aisla en su casa

The main actor in this play, that was co-written with Mr. Charles Dickens, is Richard Wardour, a man of violent passions, who has been supplanted in the affections of the woman to whom he was ardently attached. He discovers his successful rival in a comrade in an arctic expedition. Eager, mad for revenge, he determines to kill him. They go forth together in the rear of a party dispatched in search of succor, Richard Wardour with murder in his thoughts, Frank Aldersley unsuspecting, conding. Companionship in suffering restores the heart of humanity to Richard Wardour. Instead of being the destroyer of his rival, he becomes his savior.

The special charm of No Name is the uncertainty in which the reader is kept. The most experienced of novel-readers is unable to predict whether Magdalen succeeds in her scheme, or marries Capt. Kirke, or retires from the scene to die, baffled and broken-hearted. Each crisis in the progress of the story takes the public by surprise. The death of the elder Vanstone, the marriage of Magdalen with his son, the trust by which Noel Vanstone prolongs the contest, even after his decease to quote the word which he himself preferred to the vulgar one of death are all startling surprises, unpredicted and unforeseen Much higher praise cannot be given. There is, too, both about Capt. Wragge and Old Mazey, a dry, delicate humour, for which before one should hardly have given Mr. Collins credit. No Name has added to the authors fame and many readers have derived so much pleasure in reading it, that it is hard to speak ungratefully of this book. Still it is fair to warn the novel-reading public that, if they want really to enjoy the great sensation novel, they should read it at the rate of not more than a chapter a day.

Mr. Wilkie Collins can tell a story well, and he has an ingenious knack of stringing stories together. After Dark consisted of a series of stories, and admirable they were, and The Queen of Hearts is a work of the same description. The author lives in the region of fiction; but he does not aim at the higher objects contemplated by the more gifted writers of his class. He does not affect to be profound, philosophical, or didactic. His great object is so to write as to sustain interest and to amuse. But, though he does not aim at anything beyond that, thanks to his sympathies with many of the better qualities of human nature, he achieves something much higher.

A Rogues Life was published in a magazine some twenty years before it was made into a book. It is a very clever story, and the interest is well sustained throughout. There is just about enough of it, inasmuch as a short tale like this is more interesting than some of the authors longer works, wherein the complicated plots and lengthened mysteries are too apt to weary the reader before his curiosity is satisfied. We cannot help feeling quite an affection for the "Rogue," perhaps because most of the other characters in the story are as selfish, more wicked, and not so frankly conceited as he is, and have none of his courage, audacity, and cleverness to redeem them. We must all sympathize in his marriage, though it is not celebrated under the most favorable circumstances, he being liable to the extreme penalty of the law at the time. It seems hard that he should be captured, tried, and sentenced to transportation immediately after securing his wife; but this proves the beginning of his upward career of prosperity and respectability, and we leave him happily settled with Alicia in Australia. We do not wish to destroy the interest of a book which is so dependent on the plot, by telling more of the story, and therefore leave it without further comment to new readers.

This extraordinary work ranks among the foremost purely melodramatic or sensation novels of modern times. Mr. Collins has thrown a force and power into this story, of which the reader has only seen intimations in his former works. After opening the narrative with a cheerful sketch of Professor Pesea, an Italian Refugee, combining in his small person all the pleasant traits of his nation, the author at once begins his work, and in a few sentences throws a weird and mystic glow over the story, which we feel to deepen and extend, until the disclosure of the plot by the discovery of the register and subsequent death of Sir Percival Glyde. This effort is all the more remarkable when we examine the simplicity of the means employed, which consist of a series of Runic repetitions so strongly exemplied in Edgar Poes compositions. The misfortune which must attach to all novels of the terrific school, is, that the termination of necessity explains that which the imagination has been before allowed to dwell upon, and a feeling of disappointment must succeed the denouement however horrible that may be. This, Mr. Collins has avoided as far as practicable, in withdrawing the attention of the reader from the eclaircissement, by relating a tremendous interview, tremendous from the self-control exercised by both parties, between Hartright and Count Fosca, a villain of entirely new stamp, except in his fondness for pets, in which he resembles, if we remember correctly, one of the Council of Three who, while condemning thousands to the guillotine, would fondle his cat with feminine tenderness. But we will not spoil the plot, plain yet complex, elaborate but not confused. What we can do, however, is to advise those who enjoy the stronger forms of light literature, to lose no time in reading this most interesting novel.