Published in 1860, The Woman in White is one of the earliest and most celebrated examples of the mystery and suspense novel. Wilkie Collins builds a gripping intrigue from a haunting encounter: Walter Hartright, a young drawing teacher, crosses paths with a mysterious woman dressed in white who seems to be fleeing an unknown danger. From this incident unfolds a complex story of deception, conspiracies, and family secrets, where identity and truth become pieces of a fascinating puzzle.
Narrated from multiple perspectives, the novel combines elements of the serial novel with a carefully structured narrative, anticipating many techniques of modern detective fiction. With memorable characters such as the courageous Marian Halcombe and the sinister Count Fosco, The Woman in White continues to captivate readers, cementing Collins as a master of suspense and a precursor of the detective novel.
Circa l’autore
Wilkie Collins was an English writer widely recognized as one of the pioneers of the mystery novel and the detective genre. Born in London, Collins is celebrated for his works that explore suspense, crime, and social criticism, blending innovative narratives with a deep analysis of Victorian morality. Despite being highly popular in his time, his influence extended beyond his era, leaving an indelible mark on mystery literature.
Collins stood out for his ability to blend mystery, romance, and social critique in his novels. Among his most celebrated works are The Woman in White (1860) and The Moonstone (1868). The former is considered one of the first mystery novels, notable for its innovative use of multiple narrators and fictional documents. The Moonstone, on the other hand, is often cited as the first modern detective novel, featuring a professional investigator and a structure that influenced the genre for decades to come.
Collins revolutionized the literature of his time by introducing narrative elements that later became essential to mystery and crime novels. His emphasis on psychological suspense, first-person narration, and unexpected plot twists laid the foundation for the modern genre. His influence extends to writers like Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie, who adopted and refined many of his narrative techniques.
Furthermore, his novels reflect a critique of the rigidity of Victorian society, denouncing legal corruption and the injustices suffered by women. Through complex female characters and plots in which truth is revealed with wit and cunning, Collins challenged the conventions of his time.
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