Wilkie Collins
Wilkie Collins (1824-1889) was an English novelist and playwright, a master of suspense and one of the pioneers of detective and 'sensation' fiction. A close friend and collaborator of Charles Dickens, he wrote some of the most gripping and ingeniously plotted novels of the Victorian era.
His two masterpieces are The Woman in White, a thrilling tale of mystery, madness, and mistaken identity, and The Moonstone, often called the first great English detective novel, centred on the theft of a priceless Indian diamond. Collins was a brilliant plotter who used multiple narrators, secrets, and cliffhangers to keep readers gripped, and he tackled social issues like the treatment of women and the disabled.
An unconventional, sociable man, Collins was hugely popular in his day and helped shape the mystery and detective genres that followed.
His storytelling is gripping. Our editions present it clearly for modern readers. Read the opening free, and read or listen with a membership.
Wilkie Collins in the library · 2 works
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Frequently asked questions about Wilkie Collins
What did Wilkie Collins write?
Collins wrote novels and plays, and is best known for The Woman in White and The Moonstone. He also wrote No Name, Armadale, and many other novels and short stories. The Woman in White and The Moonstone, his suspenseful 'sensation' and detective novels, are his most celebrated works.
What is The Moonstone about?
The Moonstone follows the mystery of a magnificent Indian diamond, stolen during a robbery in England, and the tangled efforts to recover it. Told through several different narrators and featuring an eccentric detective, Sergeant Cuff, it is a masterpiece of suspense and misdirection. It is often called the first great detective novel in English.
Why is The Moonstone important to detective fiction?
The Moonstone established many conventions of the detective genre — the brilliant, quirky detective, the country-house crime, red herrings, multiple suspects, and a surprising solution. T. S. Eliot called it 'the first and greatest of English detective novels.' It profoundly influenced later writers, including Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie.
Where should I start with Wilkie Collins?
The Woman in White is a gripping, atmospheric starting point and one of the most exciting Victorian novels. The Moonstone is the essential detective story and equally compelling. Either is a great introduction to his suspenseful storytelling. Both are page-turners.
How was Collins connected to Dickens?
Collins was a close friend, protégé, and frequent collaborator of Charles Dickens, who published much of Collins's work in his magazines and co-wrote stories and plays with him. Dickens greatly admired Collins's gift for plot. Their friendship was one of the most important literary partnerships of the Victorian era.
When did Wilkie Collins live?
Collins lived from 1824 to 1889. He published The Woman in White in 1859-1860 and The Moonstone in 1868, at the height of his popularity. A friend of Dickens, he was one of the most successful and inventive novelists of the Victorian age.
Where can I read Wilkie Collins for free?
Collins's works are in the public domain and freely available. Older editions keep the full Victorian text. Here you can read the openings free in clear modern English, and read or listen with a membership.
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