Wilkie Collins 
Antonina; Or, The Fall of Rome [EPUB ebook] 

Wilkie Collins (1824-1889) was a prolific English writer and early master of the mystery and detective genre. Most widely recognized for his pioneering sensation novels, Collins was an intimate friend and collaborator with Charles Dickens, both men sharing a penchant for theatrical narratives and keen social critique. Collins’ legal education deeply informed his literary compositions, introducing readers to intricate plots that often highlighted issues of identity, inheritance, and justice. His first novel, ‘Antonina; or, The Fall of Rome’ (1850), diverges from his later work, offering a historical narrative set against the backdrop of the crumbling Roman Empire. However, Collins’ enduring reputation rests on his subsequent novels, such as ‘The Woman in White’ (1860) and ‘The Moonstone’ (1868). These works, which blend domestic realism with Gothic horror and melodrama, encapsulate his narrative genius and established him as a key figure in the development of detective fiction. His works also provide an incisive exploration of Victorian anxieties concerning gender, class, and madness. Collins’ literary style is distinguished by his inventive structuring of narrative voices, his flair for suspense, and his ability to engage readers in ethical dilemmas through complex characters and twisting plots.