Résumé
Résumé de Le Génie malfaisant
À qui s’adresse-t-il ?
Readers who love Victorian domestic drama, sharp comic portraits, courtroom and family dilemmas, and stories where a strong-willed mother, a loyal child and a lively old schemer carry the plot.
De quoi parle ce livre ?
A jury room full of hungry, fidgety, sleepy men decides the fate of a ship's captain, and a dying man hides a cipher in a trunk lining. So opens The Evil Genius by Wilkie Collins, a novel of marriage, divorce and a child caught in between. First, the cipher and the girl it leaves behind.
Dans ce résumé
- 1A trial and a cipher start everythingFree
- 2A neglected child is sent away
- 3A kind stranger offers a new life
- 4Mount Morven opens its arms to Sydney
- 5One night in the garden changes everything
- 6Mrs. Presty stirs up the family storm
- 7A child's illness calls the governess back
- 8Divorce, flight and a false name
- 9What the story asks about forgiveness
Point clé 1 sur 9
A trial and a cipher start everything
The book opens with a comic jury trying Captain Roderick Westerfield for wrecking his ship and stealing diamonds. The silent juryman settles the verdict with a single word, and the captain dies of heart disease before sentence.
His wife finds a letter hidden in his trunk. It says the dead second mate confessed to the crime and left a cipher marking where the diamonds lie. She means to find them.
The opening shows how chance and greed can shape lives. It also sets up the fate of the captain's daughter, who matters least to her mother. The captain wants the stones returned to their owners so his children can know he is innocent. His wife sees a fortune for herself instead. Even before the main household appears, a parent's choices put a child's future at risk.
That’s 1 of 9 key points.
The rest of the summary, written and spoken, and the whole book: free to start.
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Questions about Le Génie malfaisant
What is The Evil Genius about?
It follows a neglected girl who becomes a governess in a Scottish household. Her presence leads to a scandal, a divorce and a fight over a child, while a comic grandmother schemes in the background.
Who is the evil genius in the book?
Mrs. Presty first applies the name to Sydney Westerfield, whom she distrusts. Randal also thinks the name suits Mrs. Presty and her meddling.
Is The Evil Genius a true story?
No, it is a novel by Wilkie Collins. It explores marriage and divorce, including differences between Scottish and English divorce law.
Is The Evil Genius easy to read?
Yes. Short chapters, lively dialogue and humorous characters such as Mrs. Presty and Mr. Sarrazin keep the story moving, and the plot is clear from the opening trial onward.
What is the main message of the book?
Collins asks what the law should do about marriage, mercy and forgiveness. The story argues that love, family and a child's needs matter alongside rules and public opinion.