Such was the immediate appeal of Wilkie Collins’s masterpiece ‘The Woman In White’ that, among other notable personages, ‘Thackeray is said to have sat up all night to read the exciting tale…..Gladstone cancelled a theatre engagement rather than interrupt his reading’. ( Vincent Starrett)
Here is the title page and frontispiece of the edition that I finished reading yesterday. Starrett’s introduction is knowledgeable and informative and contains no spoilers. Like him, I will not disclose the story.
It is perhaps fitting that the author of his other famous book, ‘The Moonstone’, accredited with being the first detective novel, has constructed a series of interwoven plots which keep us guessing from start to finish. The tense suspense is maintained throughout.
The sometimes complex characters are well drawn; dialogue is credible and clearly presented. Perhaps the author’s early legal training influenced his choice of narratives given by the different protagonists.
The prose races along without resorting to brief journalistic sentences. Descriptions of place and time are well seen, and Collins uses weather and atmosphere such as a stagnant pool, fog, or precipitations to feature the moods of his characters.
Ends are all ultimately quite naturally tied together. Why, in particular, does one Italian friend disappear from the story to emerge in an important sequence in due course?
The artist’s full page illustrations have been hand coloured after photogravure printing. The black and white drawings occupy half their pages.
A lot of love and talent went into these images!
Thank you very much, John
The illustrations are beautiful and expressive.
Thank you very much, Merril
I haven’t read it in a while but my recollection is Ioved it. Ditto the Moonstone
Thanks a lot, Geoff
I really like the review, illustrations, and how famous readers took to the novel.
I really like the review, illustrations, and how famous readers took to the novel.
Thank you very much, Pat
Another beautiful edition, Derrick, I’m envious of your marvellous collection. I don’t know why I’ve never got around to Collins. I know I will enjoy his books when I finally pick one up!
Thank you very much, Sandra
A review worth waiting for! I enjoyed “The Moonstone” which I read before “The Lady in White”. Thank you for sharing the beautiful illustrations in your copy of the novel.
Much appreciated, Anne
Great illustrations in the story. I thought it was interesting that the book was published in woodstock, Vermont in 1964.
Yes, it was interesting. Thanks very much, Dwight
You are welcome!
Thank you for sharing the illustrations with us, Derrick. Book reviews don’t get much better than cancelling a theatre performance to keep reading!
Thanks very much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.
YAY!!! Thank you for sharing your review and these illustrations! I was waiting excitedly to read this post! 🙂 Mr. Rosoman’s illustrations are amazing! Both the hand coloured ones AND the B&W ones! The added blues, greens, yellows are lovely!
A great “duet” by Vincent Starrett and Leonard Rosomon!
(((HUGS))) 🙂 ❤️
Thank you very much, Carolyn X
You don’t see drawing like these in modern books.
I just bought a set of Sherlock Holmes books new. There are a few drawings in them but nothing like the drawings in the very early publications of same. Doctor Watson looks nothing like the original character and the words don’t match his description on the page beside the drawing either. Suddenly, Doctor Watson has grown to be taller and healthier looking than Sherlock Holmes and it’s when they first rented Baker Street together.
I do love the old books.
Thanks very much, Chrissy. I had an excellent Folio Society set of Sherlock Holmes which I gave to my Australian grandson when the family visited before Covid. Only a short while ago he told me he isn’t interested in illustrations – but he loved the books
A book to put on the TBR list.
Thanks very much, Laurie
The hand coloured picture of the churchyard is my favourite. The restrained colours are beautiful.
I was impressed by the colours, too, John. Thank you very much
Thanks for the suggestion. I found it ?
Such wonderful illustrations
Thanks very much, Sheree
Thank you for the wonderful illustrations. Also for not telling the ending of the story. I have just ordered a used copy of it.
Much appreciated, Rose
Hi Derrick, I read about this book on another blog recently and I was interested in it then. Your post has further increased my interest and I shall have to get it now.
Thanks very much, Robbie
Hi Derrick – this is a great review. You have a beautiful edition of The Woman in White. I enjoyed seeing these illustrations, especially the one of Fosco! Thanks for sharing them 🙂
Much appreciated, Barbara. Thank you for the prompt to read it again – I know last time was 2000, because of the train ticket I left in it 🙂
Haha – that’s the fun thing about physical books!
I’ve never read this, Derrick. Thank you for the review – I will !
Thanks a lot, Jodie
xo
Absolutely beautiful illustrations!
I’m pleased you like them, Ribana. Thank you very much
I have been travelling to and fro between two cities causing me to miss out on important posts. I have quietly marked the book as a must-read as soon as I settle down in the new place. The drawings bespeak of brilliance and dedicated hard work.
Thank you very much, Uma. Are you going somewhere better?
Wonderful illustrations, thank you. I checked audible.com, and this title is offered for free with a membership right now, so it’s now in my library. Yay!
Much appreciated, Crystal