Man and Wife (1870) is a novel by Wilkie Collins. Written at the height of Collins’ career, Man and Wife displays the author’s the trademark sense of mystery and psychological unease that made him a household name around the world. Recognized as an important Victorian novelist and pioneer of detective fiction, Wilkie Collins was a writer with a gift for thoughtful entertainment, stories written for a popular audience that continue to resonate with scholars and readers today. At the estate of Lady Lundie in the lush Scottish countryside, a complicated situation is beginning to unfold. Geoffrey Delamyn, a young heir, has secretly promised to marry Anne Silvester, the governess of Lady Lundie’s stepdaughter Blanche. When Geoffrey learns of his impending disinheritance, he realizes that in order to live a life of luxury he must find himself a wealthy widow to marry, thereby breaking his promise to Anne. Because of an antiquated Scots marriage law, his verbal commitment is legally binding, forcing Geoffrey to come up with a questionable plan to extricate himself from his contract. He employs the assistance of his friend Arnold, who disguises himself as Geoffrey and meets Anne at a local inn, where he refers to her as his wife in front of several witnesses. As the story unfolds, Arnold falls in love with Blanche, Anne seeks legal counsel, and Geoffrey does whatever he can to further his own interests at the expense of others. Beyond its sensational plot, Man and Wife is a masterpiece of comedy and social critique for seasoned readers of Victorian fiction and newcomers alike. This edition of Wilkie Collins’ Man and Wife is a classic work of English literature reimagined for modern readers.
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Circa l’autore
Wilkie Collins (1824-1889) was an English novelist and playwright. Born in London, Collins was raised in England, Italy, and France by William Collins, a renowned landscape painter, and his wife Harriet Geddes. After working for a short time as a tea merchant, he published Antonina (1850), his literary debut. He quickly became known as a leading author of sensation novels, a popular genre now recognized as a forerunner to detective fiction. Encouraged on by the success of his early work, Collins made a name for himself on the London literary scene. He soon befriended Charles Dickens, forming a strong bond grounded in friendship and mentorship that would last several decades. His novels The Woman in White (1859) and The Moonstone (1868) are considered pioneering examples of mystery and detective fiction, and enabled Collins to become financially secure. Toward the end of the 1860s, at the height of his career, Collins began to suffer from numerous illnesses, including gout and opium addiction, which contributed to his decline as a writer. Beyond his literary work, Collins is seen as an early advocate for marriage reform, criticizing the institution and living a radically open romantic lifestyle.
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