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The Moonstone
Wilkie Collins鈥檚 spellbinding tale of romance, theft, and murder inspired a hugely popular genre鈥搕he detective mystery. Hinging on the theft of an enormous diamond originally stolen from an Indian shrine, this riveting novel features the innovative Sergeant Cuff, the hilarious house steward Gabriel Betteridge, a lovesick housemaid, and a mysterious band of Indian jugglers.
This Modern Library Paperback Classic is set from the definitive 1871 edition.
This Modern Library Paperback Classic is set from the definitive 1871 edition.
528 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1868
5,120 people are currently reading
90.7k people want to read
About the author
Wilkie Collins
2,188听books2,770听followersWilkie Collins was an English novelist and playwright, best known for The Woman in White (1860), an early sensation novel, and The Moonstone (1868), a pioneering work of detective fiction. Born to landscape painter William Collins and Harriet Geddes, he spent part of his childhood in Italy and France, learning both languages. Initially working as a tea merchant, he later studied law, though he never practiced. His literary career began with Antonina (1850), and a meeting with Charles Dickens in 1851 proved pivotal. The two became close friends and collaborators, with Collins contributing to Dickens' journals and co-writing dramatic works.
Collins' success peaked in the 1860s with novels that combined suspense with social critique, including No Name (1862), Armadale (1864), and The Moonstone, which established key elements of the modern detective story. His personal life was unconventional鈥攈e openly opposed marriage and lived with Caroline Graves and her daughter for much of his life, while also maintaining a separate relationship with Martha Rudd, with whom he had three children.
Plagued by gout, Collins became addicted to laudanum, which affected both his health and later works. Despite declining quality in his writing, he remained a respected figure, mentoring younger authors and advocating for writers' rights. He died in 1889 and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery. His legacy endures through his influential novels, which laid the groundwork for both sensation fiction and detective literature.
Collins' success peaked in the 1860s with novels that combined suspense with social critique, including No Name (1862), Armadale (1864), and The Moonstone, which established key elements of the modern detective story. His personal life was unconventional鈥攈e openly opposed marriage and lived with Caroline Graves and her daughter for much of his life, while also maintaining a separate relationship with Martha Rudd, with whom he had three children.
Plagued by gout, Collins became addicted to laudanum, which affected both his health and later works. Despite declining quality in his writing, he remained a respected figure, mentoring younger authors and advocating for writers' rights. He died in 1889 and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery. His legacy endures through his influential novels, which laid the groundwork for both sensation fiction and detective literature.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,408 reviews
September 13, 2020
The Moonstone, generally recognized as the first detective novel (despite the appearance of The Notting Hill Mystery a few years before), is not only a work of historical importance but also a work that transcends the genre it created, in the artfulness of its plotting, in its compassionate depiction of servants, and in its enlightened resolution of the theme of the British Empire, its crimes and their consequences.
Not that I wish to minimize its historical importance. The Moonstone is the first鈥攃ertainly the first fully-formed鈥攄etective novel, and it contains within that great 鈥渇irst鈥� a number of little 鈥渇irsts鈥�: the first English country house mystery featuring a large guest list of suspects, the first crew of bumbling local policemen mucking about in the evidence, the first detective genius distinguished by an unlikely hobby, the first small, suggestive physical clue (a smear on the bottom of a newly-painted door), the first effective 鈥渞ed herrings鈥� (I counted at least two), the first attempt at a precise reenactment of the crime at its original scene, and the first pursuit of a disguised criminal through the streets of a major city.
But it is the plot, which uses all these 鈥渇irsts鈥� to great advantage, that both astonishes and pleases the reader. The Moonstone is at least three times the length of the average detective novel, and yet it sustains interest and maintains credibility throughout its many twists. turns, and asides. Its plot reminds me of the melody line of Bellini's 鈥淐asta Diva,鈥� which strikes the ear as a thing of incomparable elegance, but never calls to mind鈥攅xcept upon later reflection鈥攅ither its own extraordinary length or the expert craftsmanship such seamless length requires.
Also impressive is Collins' sympathetic depiction of the English servant class. Steward and Butler Gabriel Betteredge is a marvelous comic character, memorable for his daily readings of Robinson Crusoe, which he reveres as a source of divination and practical guidance. But Betteredge is also the essentially reliable narrator of half the novel, and, as we learn of the events on the Verinder estate through his eyes and ears, we grow to love and trust him as a good man and an intelligent observer. Also noteworthy is Collins' presentation of Roseanna, the servant girl with a deformed shoulder and a criminal past. Collins treats her with dignity, neither as a comic grotesque nor as an object of simple pity, but as fully human person with a unique, blighted destiny.
But perhaps my favorite thing about the book is Collins' use of 鈥淭he Moonstone鈥� itself, that great diamond snatched from a Hindu shrine by the villainous Colonel Herncastle during the Siege of Seringapatam鈥攖he 1799 climax to the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War which served to institutionalize English theft under the banner of the British East India Company. It is the second theft of this gem from the Verinder estate that precipitates the events of the novel, but memory of the original crime鈥攁nd its curse鈥攊s never far from the reader, for the Brahmins who wish to return 鈥淭he Moonstone鈥� to the shrine of Chandra are never far away. At first these shadowy figures appear to be exotic villians, but Collins eventually shows us that the real criminals鈥攂oth past and present鈥攁re the 鈥渞espectable鈥� English, and he grants his Hindu priests a moving coda. Sure, the ending of the novel is romantic, and exotic. But it is dignified and respectful of other cultures too.
The real reason, however, that you should read The Moonstone is that it endures, after all these years, as a diverting and absorbing entertainment. The first detective novel is still as readable as if it were published today.
February 9, 2019
The Moonstone was published in 1868 and is considered by most people to be the first detective novel. Given the novels place in the history of the genre, that alone should put this book on most people's reading lists. To sweeten the pot, the plot is compelling, the last hundred pages I couldn't have put the book down for anything. I was caught up in the case and wanted to find out the why and the who in the mysterious circumstances surrounding the MOONSTONE.
The novel is narrated by several different people. My favorite was Gabriel Betteredge, the head servant at the Verinder house, who becomes a reluctant Watson for Detective Cuff during the investigation. He is a man convinced in the spiritual guidance of and believes that any disruption in his life can be explained by reading and interpreting passages from his dogeared copy of Defoe's classic.
"In this anxious frame of mind, other men might have ended by working themselves up into a fever; I ended in a different way. I lit my pipe, and took a turn at Robinson Crusoe."
Betteredge is a man of his age and his views on women I found so ridiculous as to actually laugh out loud.
"It is a maxim of mine that men (being superior creatures) are bound to improve women-if they can. When a woman wants me to do anything I always insist on knowing why. The oftener you make them rummage their own minds for a reason, the more manageable you will find them in all the relations of life. It isn't their fault (poor wretches!) that they act first, and think afterwards; it's the fault of the fools who humour them."
Despite his archaic views, Betteredge proves to be a good assistant to the enigmatic Sergeant Cuff. Cuff's eyes had such intensity, "looking as if they expected something more from you than you were aware of yourself." Wilkie Collins based his character Sergeant Cuff on a real celebrated Victorian Detective Inspector Jack Whicher.
Sergeant Cuff is summoned from London to investigate the disappearance of the Moonstone, and despite the reluctance of the household to help him in his investigations, he does come up with a theory (kept from us) that proves in the final pages of the book that he is worthy of his reputation. Cuff is as equally interested in the rose gardens (he has strong opinions) as he is in the crime he is investigating. "grass walkways never gravel" Collins does a great job putting flesh on the bones of the characters. We learn more about every major character than is necessary for the advancement of the plot. By the end of the novel I had the feeling that I was not only closing the cover on a great book, but also leaving behind some dear friends.
Another narrator, that I was not fond of, in fact, she made my skin crawl is Drusilla Clack. A cousin of the family, Drusilla, with her tendency to eavesdrop and make herself in all ways intrusive on her family and "friends" is a born again christian. The novel is set in 1848 and the term born again was not in use until much later, but she fits the profile. She was determined to save everyone and carried about her person tracts of her hero Miss Jane Ann Stamper. Once she has invaded a house she would leave tracts scattered about in places where people would eventually find them, and hopefully receive the edification that Drusilla felt they needed.
She seemed like this on first appearances.
But like Drusilla from Buffy the Vampire Slayer she would pounce on people, not for blood, but for a chance to save their immortal souls.
As I have mentioned, all the characters are well developed and Drusilla is no exception. She is a person, that after a previous encounter, you would go to great lengths to keep her from buttonholing you again.
This book delivers. You will not be disappointed. If I read it again I will put on a kettle of good English tea, light some candles, and tuck myself into an armchair, suspending myself as well as I can back into a Victorian age. I had such a great time I will certainly be reading more Wilkie Collins.
"You are welcome to be as merry as you please over everything else I have written. But when I write of Robinson Crusoe, by the Lord it's serious-and I request you to take it accordingly!"
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June 17, 2020
4.5 stars, rounding up, for this 1868 Victorian-era mystery, often considered the first English-language detective novel. Wilkie Collins spins a literary web that starts out slowly but then inexorably pulls you in; I finished the last half of the book in one extended readathon. He has a gift for writing as vastly different characters, who each take a turn telling or writing their part of the story, and a droll, sometimes very sarcastic sense of humor.
In 1799 a British soldier steals a large yellow diamond from a Hindu statute in India, ruthlessly killing three Indian men protecting the statue, and earning himself a curse from one of them in the process. He gets a bad reputation as a result and is shunned by his extended family in England. So when he dies, he leaves the Moonstone to his niece Rachel (whose mother refused to receive him as a guest in her home), knowing he's leaving her not only a 30,000 pound fortune in the jewel, but also a load of potential trouble: there's not just the amorphous curse, but three Indian men who have been following the owners of the Moonstone for years and are determined to steal it back, one way or another.
Rachel's relative Franklin Blake is entrusted with bringing her the diamond for her 18th birthday, and falls in love with her as he gets to know her over several days. The Indians are lurking, looking for their chance to grab their gem. Rachel wears the Moonstone at a dinner party the night of her birthday, puts the jewel in a drawer in her bedroom ... and the next morning it's gone. The odd thing is, it looks like an inside job. The bumbling local police are of little help, and even the renowned outside detective, the estimable Sergeant Cuff, is unable to bring the case to a satisfactory conclusion, though part of the problem is that several people aren't cooperating with him.
Wilkie Collins doesn't try all that hard to hide the villain in the tale, but the "how" is fascinatingly revealed over the last half of the book. I don't think Wilkie was particularly interested in giving readers all of the clues; this isn't really a mystery that is supposed to be solved by readers before the big reveal, in my opinion (the final reveal of exactly what went down that fateful night pretty much comes out of left field, though there are a few clues in the story). He's more interested in telling an exciting story, and he pulls just about everything into the mix: a massive jewel, star-crossed love, people hiding things for their own reasons, a servant with a highly suspicious past, dangerous quicksand, and a loyal servant with an amusing and rather touching devotion to Robinson Crusoe, which he treats as a sort of Bible. Better him than Rachel's cousin Drusilla Clack, an annoying Christian evangelist given to preaching and leaving tracts with titles like "Satan in the Hair Brush" around people's homes!
This proto-detective novel does get a little slow at times - Victorian authors typically weren't in a hurry to tell their stories, especially when they were serialized in magazines, like this one was. But once the storyline really started moving along in the second half I thought it was a great read. Bonus points for handling the Indian subplot in a manner that's unusually sensitive for books written in the Victorian age.
In 1799 a British soldier steals a large yellow diamond from a Hindu statute in India, ruthlessly killing three Indian men protecting the statue, and earning himself a curse from one of them in the process. He gets a bad reputation as a result and is shunned by his extended family in England. So when he dies, he leaves the Moonstone to his niece Rachel (whose mother refused to receive him as a guest in her home), knowing he's leaving her not only a 30,000 pound fortune in the jewel, but also a load of potential trouble: there's not just the amorphous curse, but three Indian men who have been following the owners of the Moonstone for years and are determined to steal it back, one way or another.
Rachel's relative Franklin Blake is entrusted with bringing her the diamond for her 18th birthday, and falls in love with her as he gets to know her over several days. The Indians are lurking, looking for their chance to grab their gem. Rachel wears the Moonstone at a dinner party the night of her birthday, puts the jewel in a drawer in her bedroom ... and the next morning it's gone. The odd thing is, it looks like an inside job. The bumbling local police are of little help, and even the renowned outside detective, the estimable Sergeant Cuff, is unable to bring the case to a satisfactory conclusion, though part of the problem is that several people aren't cooperating with him.
Wilkie Collins doesn't try all that hard to hide the villain in the tale, but the "how" is fascinatingly revealed over the last half of the book. I don't think Wilkie was particularly interested in giving readers all of the clues; this isn't really a mystery that is supposed to be solved by readers before the big reveal, in my opinion (the final reveal of exactly what went down that fateful night pretty much comes out of left field, though there are a few clues in the story). He's more interested in telling an exciting story, and he pulls just about everything into the mix: a massive jewel, star-crossed love, people hiding things for their own reasons, a servant with a highly suspicious past, dangerous quicksand, and a loyal servant with an amusing and rather touching devotion to Robinson Crusoe, which he treats as a sort of Bible. Better him than Rachel's cousin Drusilla Clack, an annoying Christian evangelist given to preaching and leaving tracts with titles like "Satan in the Hair Brush" around people's homes!
This proto-detective novel does get a little slow at times - Victorian authors typically weren't in a hurry to tell their stories, especially when they were serialized in magazines, like this one was. But once the storyline really started moving along in the second half I thought it was a great read. Bonus points for handling the Indian subplot in a manner that's unusually sensitive for books written in the Victorian age.
February 24, 2025
Holy shit! This was actually funny and I was not expecting that at all.
It was a serialized story, so it tends to ramble in places and not wrap up as quickly as it probably would have otherwise. However, it didn't feel tedious or drawn out like some of those stories do. This was truly entertaining. I'd recommend this to anyone who loves locked-door mysteries because this one definitely stands the test of time.
The book is told by four different narrators who have been asked by Franklin Blake to write what they were witnesses to in regard to the crime. Franklin himself had inadvertently become deeply embroiled in the mysterious disappearance of the Moonstone and was looking to record the hijinks for posterity.
My favorite voice is that of Gabriel Betteredge. He's an elderly and much-beloved servant who has been in service to this family all of his life. He's loyal to a fault, and a truly humorous narrator in that grumpy but loveable old man way. The descriptions of his marriage made me laugh out loud, and his certainty that his favorite book, Robinson Crusoe, held the answers to all of life's problems was endearing.
And also made me realize that I need to read Robinson Crusoe.
Drusilla Clack is our second narrator. She's a hilariously accurate busybody who lives her life for the church. She spends her days handing out unwanted Bible tracts, giving unwanted advice, and drooling over Rachel's cousin (and rebuffed suitor), Godfrey Ablewhite. Godfrey is that guy. You know, the one who champions all the women's charities and basks in the worship of all the local spinsters.
Oh god. He's awful but in the absolute best way possible for a story like this.
Collins added in so many funny little extras that I wasn't expecting and they caught me off guard because so many of these older classics tend to be so dry.
For example, Miss Clack annoys one man so much that he starts cursing, then she proceeds to hand him a tract on swearing called Hush for Heaven's Sake. I loved that! Mostly because it makes you realize that people aren't really all that different now than they were back then. It's nice to know that the Drucilla Clacks of the world have always been universally...avoided.
Mr. Bruff is the family's solicitor, loyal champion during some hard times, and the third narrator of the tale. He's not as funny to listen to as the first two narrators, but he's a very likable guy.
You feel like you are getting the real story from him.
Ezra Jennings is the 4th narrator. He's Doctor Candy's foreign assistant with the dark and mysterious past and a heart of gold. This is the guy who's got the clue no one else has and his information may just crack the case wide open.
Each of these people tells what they know through their firsthand experiences with the events surrounding the theft of the Moonstone.
Now, underneath all of this mystery is a love story between a guy, Franklin, who is on the cusp of getting his shit together (but still has a few debts to pay off), and a girl, Rachel, who is so up her own ass with her version of morals that I kind of wanted to smack her. But they love each other and you're rooting for those two silly kids to get together and balance each other out.
Ok, so the gist is that Colonel Herncastle murdered some holy men in India and stole their sacred Moonstone while a battle was raging. Nobody could prove what he did, but everyone knew. And the end result was that his family turned their backs on him. So while he had the jewel, he lost all credibility and had to slink off into a dirty corner somewhere.
Fast forward toward the end of his life, and because he's a complete fucktard, he wills it to his niece in the hopes that it ruins her life as it did his, therefore taking his final revenge on his sister. <--who had had enough of his shit by the time he killed the holy men.
When this dude finally keels over, it kicks off an entire circus of crazy events that somehow interconnect in random ways to make for one of the best classic mysteries that I've ever read.
As I was listening to it there were so many things that seemed like one thing, but by the end of the book that part of the story was revealed to be something else entirely.
This? This is one of those books that I'll be recommending to my friends. A lot.
It was a serialized story, so it tends to ramble in places and not wrap up as quickly as it probably would have otherwise. However, it didn't feel tedious or drawn out like some of those stories do. This was truly entertaining. I'd recommend this to anyone who loves locked-door mysteries because this one definitely stands the test of time.
The book is told by four different narrators who have been asked by Franklin Blake to write what they were witnesses to in regard to the crime. Franklin himself had inadvertently become deeply embroiled in the mysterious disappearance of the Moonstone and was looking to record the hijinks for posterity.
My favorite voice is that of Gabriel Betteredge. He's an elderly and much-beloved servant who has been in service to this family all of his life. He's loyal to a fault, and a truly humorous narrator in that grumpy but loveable old man way. The descriptions of his marriage made me laugh out loud, and his certainty that his favorite book, Robinson Crusoe, held the answers to all of life's problems was endearing.
And also made me realize that I need to read Robinson Crusoe.
Drusilla Clack is our second narrator. She's a hilariously accurate busybody who lives her life for the church. She spends her days handing out unwanted Bible tracts, giving unwanted advice, and drooling over Rachel's cousin (and rebuffed suitor), Godfrey Ablewhite. Godfrey is that guy. You know, the one who champions all the women's charities and basks in the worship of all the local spinsters.
Oh god. He's awful but in the absolute best way possible for a story like this.
Collins added in so many funny little extras that I wasn't expecting and they caught me off guard because so many of these older classics tend to be so dry.
For example, Miss Clack annoys one man so much that he starts cursing, then she proceeds to hand him a tract on swearing called Hush for Heaven's Sake. I loved that! Mostly because it makes you realize that people aren't really all that different now than they were back then. It's nice to know that the Drucilla Clacks of the world have always been universally...avoided.
Mr. Bruff is the family's solicitor, loyal champion during some hard times, and the third narrator of the tale. He's not as funny to listen to as the first two narrators, but he's a very likable guy.
You feel like you are getting the real story from him.
Ezra Jennings is the 4th narrator. He's Doctor Candy's foreign assistant with the dark and mysterious past and a heart of gold. This is the guy who's got the clue no one else has and his information may just crack the case wide open.
Each of these people tells what they know through their firsthand experiences with the events surrounding the theft of the Moonstone.
Now, underneath all of this mystery is a love story between a guy, Franklin, who is on the cusp of getting his shit together (but still has a few debts to pay off), and a girl, Rachel, who is so up her own ass with her version of morals that I kind of wanted to smack her. But they love each other and you're rooting for those two silly kids to get together and balance each other out.
Ok, so the gist is that Colonel Herncastle murdered some holy men in India and stole their sacred Moonstone while a battle was raging. Nobody could prove what he did, but everyone knew. And the end result was that his family turned their backs on him. So while he had the jewel, he lost all credibility and had to slink off into a dirty corner somewhere.
Fast forward toward the end of his life, and because he's a complete fucktard, he wills it to his niece in the hopes that it ruins her life as it did his, therefore taking his final revenge on his sister. <--who had had enough of his shit by the time he killed the holy men.
When this dude finally keels over, it kicks off an entire circus of crazy events that somehow interconnect in random ways to make for one of the best classic mysteries that I've ever read.
As I was listening to it there were so many things that seemed like one thing, but by the end of the book that part of the story was revealed to be something else entirely.
This? This is one of those books that I'll be recommending to my friends. A lot.
October 28, 2011
The following is a recently found letter written by the English author Charles Dickens to his friend Wilkie Collins concerning the latter鈥檚 newly released 1868 novel The Moonstone:
Charles Dickens
11 Gad鈥檚 Hill Place
Hingham, Kent
England
November 13, 1868
Dear Wilkie,
I am now pressing my pen against this paper to congratulate you on the success of your excellent new novel, The Moonstone. I have just completed reading it and I would like to present you with my opinion that this was, as they say, a true 鈥減age turner鈥� in every sense of the word. I am also taking the liberty to take this compliment a step further by stating that this is one of the finest mystery novels of all time.
I must confess that I have never actually read a book such as this that captures the sensation of a mysterious theft and a thorough investigation that follows it. It was a fascinating read throughout as the solution to the mystery was also entirely above my suspicion. I also thoroughly enjoyed the use of multi-narration where the reader obtains various different viewpoints during the inquiry concerning the loss of the Indian diamond.
I believe that this novel, The Moonstone, has successfully maintained the same exceptional level of quality as your masterpiece, The Woman in White, and it ranks among the top tiers of the written pages from our fellow countrymen. I have not the shadow of a doubt that this book will continue to enthrall readers for centuries to come. The Moonstone is a best-seller at the local bookseller here in Kent and my excitement for your continued success is immense. Well done, my dear friend Wilkie. We shall celebrate this achievement over a glass of Cognac. Best wishes and I look forward to reading your future works.
Your friend always,
Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
11 Gad鈥檚 Hill Place
Hingham, Kent
England
November 13, 1868
Dear Wilkie,
I am now pressing my pen against this paper to congratulate you on the success of your excellent new novel, The Moonstone. I have just completed reading it and I would like to present you with my opinion that this was, as they say, a true 鈥減age turner鈥� in every sense of the word. I am also taking the liberty to take this compliment a step further by stating that this is one of the finest mystery novels of all time.
I must confess that I have never actually read a book such as this that captures the sensation of a mysterious theft and a thorough investigation that follows it. It was a fascinating read throughout as the solution to the mystery was also entirely above my suspicion. I also thoroughly enjoyed the use of multi-narration where the reader obtains various different viewpoints during the inquiry concerning the loss of the Indian diamond.
I believe that this novel, The Moonstone, has successfully maintained the same exceptional level of quality as your masterpiece, The Woman in White, and it ranks among the top tiers of the written pages from our fellow countrymen. I have not the shadow of a doubt that this book will continue to enthrall readers for centuries to come. The Moonstone is a best-seller at the local bookseller here in Kent and my excitement for your continued success is immense. Well done, my dear friend Wilkie. We shall celebrate this achievement over a glass of Cognac. Best wishes and I look forward to reading your future works.
Your friend always,
Charles Dickens
September 3, 2014
The problem with mysteries 鈥� for me, anyway, is that I don't care who did it. Which is a drawback. I just think well, it's one of those characters the author has given a name to, it won't be the fourth man back on the upper deck of the omnibus mentioned briefly on page 211. It will be someone with a name. And further, it will be someone who you don't think it will be, because that's the whole point. You don't think it's going to be that person so it's a surprise. So, if it turns out to be the not-obvious person (how could the little spinster with the gammy foot batter the ten foot Guardsman to death and scale the west wall on the fateful night? Well, she was on Victorian crack is how) I say 鈥� wow, how obvious. She was really not obviously the murderer, so she was obviously the murderer.
However, I really liked Wilkie's novels The Woman in White and No Name, so I read this.
In a modern detective tale, you have your detective, and there is a detective in this one, but he only occupies a short part of the story, he quickly retires to grow roses, literally, that's not a euphemism for some kind of rent boy scandal, so the rest of the story is made up by narratives from five or six main characters.
Now comes the dance of the seven veils.
Because if two narrators had been given their voice, the whole novel would have been over in 50 pages. You get the longwinded thoughts of all the people who DON'T know what actually happened. By page 350, after being mumbled at, prevaricated over, and digressed to for what seemed days, NAY, weeks, by Wilkie Collins' five narrators, all of whom suffer from amusing psychological tics and endearing human flaws, or was it the other way round, and all of whom could have summarised their tales onto two pages of foolscap, I was ready to shrink myself to the size of a capital R (pronounced "aargh") and insert myself into this novel Fantastic Voyage-style and grab a passing amateur sleuth and confess loudly I STOLE YOUR DAMNED MOONSTONE, ARREST ME, AND THERE'S AN END OF IT!
(Memo - write future review of Victorian novel as if invested into it Fantastic Voyage-style. Should be hilarious.)
Actually, there is a point to all this 430 pages of Moonstone. The whole plot, and this, strangely enough, is not a spoiler, hangs on the attempt of one guy to give up smoking. So The Moonstone is a very elaborate warning that going cold turkey is a bad idea,
you must use the patches.
The Moonstone is often cited as the earliest medical warning story 鈥� later examples are Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde, which concerns self-medication and its dangers, and Henry James' Daisy Miller, which explains to tourists that they must get all their vaccinations. The genre is still thriving - the recent movie Bad Lieutenant 鈥� Port of New Orleans is all about inappropriate methods of combating severe back pain.
In the end I thought this was the Monkees instead of The Beatles, Pleasant Valley Sunday instead of Tomorrow Never Knows.
However, I really liked Wilkie's novels The Woman in White and No Name, so I read this.
In a modern detective tale, you have your detective, and there is a detective in this one, but he only occupies a short part of the story, he quickly retires to grow roses, literally, that's not a euphemism for some kind of rent boy scandal, so the rest of the story is made up by narratives from five or six main characters.
Now comes the dance of the seven veils.
Because if two narrators had been given their voice, the whole novel would have been over in 50 pages. You get the longwinded thoughts of all the people who DON'T know what actually happened. By page 350, after being mumbled at, prevaricated over, and digressed to for what seemed days, NAY, weeks, by Wilkie Collins' five narrators, all of whom suffer from amusing psychological tics and endearing human flaws, or was it the other way round, and all of whom could have summarised their tales onto two pages of foolscap, I was ready to shrink myself to the size of a capital R (pronounced "aargh") and insert myself into this novel Fantastic Voyage-style and grab a passing amateur sleuth and confess loudly I STOLE YOUR DAMNED MOONSTONE, ARREST ME, AND THERE'S AN END OF IT!
(Memo - write future review of Victorian novel as if invested into it Fantastic Voyage-style. Should be hilarious.)
Actually, there is a point to all this 430 pages of Moonstone. The whole plot, and this, strangely enough, is not a spoiler, hangs on the attempt of one guy to give up smoking. So The Moonstone is a very elaborate warning that going cold turkey is a bad idea,
you must use the patches.
The Moonstone is often cited as the earliest medical warning story 鈥� later examples are Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde, which concerns self-medication and its dangers, and Henry James' Daisy Miller, which explains to tourists that they must get all their vaccinations. The genre is still thriving - the recent movie Bad Lieutenant 鈥� Port of New Orleans is all about inappropriate methods of combating severe back pain.
In the end I thought this was the Monkees instead of The Beatles, Pleasant Valley Sunday instead of Tomorrow Never Knows.
December 4, 2023
The Moonstone is probably the most popular work of Wilkie Collins in his day. Perhaps it still is or perhaps The Woman in White rivals its rank at present times. But no matter, its popularity in Collin's day is no secret. Named as the first detective fiction of English literature, The Moonstone paved the way and laid the ground rules on modern detective novels. In that sense, The Moonstone is pioneer of the genre.
With his customary use of different narrators, Collins works on his story on a good plotline. The story is very cleverly built. We meet a professional detective and a few amateur detectives working hard at discovering the mysterious disappearance of a valuable Indian diamond named the "moonstone" from an English household. Suspense and intrigue are two vital features of detective fiction. Collins seems quite aware of this, for he slowly unfolds the story behind the moonstone, how it comes to be in English soil from the forehead of an Indian deity. The atmosphere is dramatically built informing the reader of an upcoming possible theft. Collins makes the reader impatient until the contemplated event takes place. The theft of the moonstone is one climax of the story; one can even say it is the first part of the story. The next part is to discover the thief (if it was stolen) and to recover the moonstone. Again Collins goes to the bottom and starts building the tension and suspense on the reader till the second climax, where the mystery is finally cleared up.
I have always enjoyed Collins's use of multiple narrators. Their different styles of narration influenced by their own perspectives provide different tones and colour to the story. There were six narrators and I found each of the narration to be different. The story begins with a pretty humorous narrative of Gabriel Betteredge. This then is followed by the eccentric Miss Clack. Mr. Bruff then proceeds with a matter-of-fact narrative before passing the baton to Mr. Franklin Blake. Blake's narrative is passionate. Of all the narratives, I found his narrative to be the most intense. His narrative is then followed by the sympathetic narrative of Ezra Jennings and the professional narrative of Sergeant Cuff. It is difficult to account for the reliability of these narrators, but these different narratives made the reading more interesting and engaging.
There are many characters involved in the story. However, unlike in other works that I've read of Collins, I found myself a bit detached from the characters. We find a spirited young woman with an independent mind in the guise of Rachel Verinder. But unfortunately, the flow of the story is such that it was difficult to like her till the very end. I didn't dislike any of the characters; rather, I was a little aloof from them. If I came close to liking any, it was Sergeant Cuff, Blake, and Jennings. However, my indifference towards the characters did not impede my enjoyment of the story as a whole. This was one novel where the story was more interesting for its plot than the characters.
The one complaint I have is that the story was very slowly developed. For detective fiction, the pace was not fast enough; at least it was not enough for my impatient self. However, being the first in the genre and that Collins wrote this for serial publication under severe suffering from attacks of 'rheumatic gout', one has to make allowances.
I liked the book, no doubt there. But I expected more from it given the immense popularity. To me personally, the book didn't live up to the standard of The Woman in White and No Name - the two other books of his that I've read and loved.
With his customary use of different narrators, Collins works on his story on a good plotline. The story is very cleverly built. We meet a professional detective and a few amateur detectives working hard at discovering the mysterious disappearance of a valuable Indian diamond named the "moonstone" from an English household. Suspense and intrigue are two vital features of detective fiction. Collins seems quite aware of this, for he slowly unfolds the story behind the moonstone, how it comes to be in English soil from the forehead of an Indian deity. The atmosphere is dramatically built informing the reader of an upcoming possible theft. Collins makes the reader impatient until the contemplated event takes place. The theft of the moonstone is one climax of the story; one can even say it is the first part of the story. The next part is to discover the thief (if it was stolen) and to recover the moonstone. Again Collins goes to the bottom and starts building the tension and suspense on the reader till the second climax, where the mystery is finally cleared up.
I have always enjoyed Collins's use of multiple narrators. Their different styles of narration influenced by their own perspectives provide different tones and colour to the story. There were six narrators and I found each of the narration to be different. The story begins with a pretty humorous narrative of Gabriel Betteredge. This then is followed by the eccentric Miss Clack. Mr. Bruff then proceeds with a matter-of-fact narrative before passing the baton to Mr. Franklin Blake. Blake's narrative is passionate. Of all the narratives, I found his narrative to be the most intense. His narrative is then followed by the sympathetic narrative of Ezra Jennings and the professional narrative of Sergeant Cuff. It is difficult to account for the reliability of these narrators, but these different narratives made the reading more interesting and engaging.
There are many characters involved in the story. However, unlike in other works that I've read of Collins, I found myself a bit detached from the characters. We find a spirited young woman with an independent mind in the guise of Rachel Verinder. But unfortunately, the flow of the story is such that it was difficult to like her till the very end. I didn't dislike any of the characters; rather, I was a little aloof from them. If I came close to liking any, it was Sergeant Cuff, Blake, and Jennings. However, my indifference towards the characters did not impede my enjoyment of the story as a whole. This was one novel where the story was more interesting for its plot than the characters.
The one complaint I have is that the story was very slowly developed. For detective fiction, the pace was not fast enough; at least it was not enough for my impatient self. However, being the first in the genre and that Collins wrote this for serial publication under severe suffering from attacks of 'rheumatic gout', one has to make allowances.
I liked the book, no doubt there. But I expected more from it given the immense popularity. To me personally, the book didn't live up to the standard of The Woman in White and No Name - the two other books of his that I've read and loved.
February 5, 2009
I was torn between giving two stars and three stars to Wilkie Collins's "The Moonstone," a book T. S. Eliot called "the first, the longest, and the best of modern English detective novels." "Longest" is perhaps the operative word here, reminding one of Samuel Johnson's comment (speaking, in his case, of Milton's "Paradise Lost") that none ever wished it longer. "The Moonstone"'s length, in the end, is its chief and perhaps only major failing. Large chunks of the novel seem to drag on and on with few advancements being made to the plot in the process. The latter parts of the section narrated by Gabriel Betteredge, chief servant to the Verinder household, and almost all of Drusilla Clack's section really could have used some judicious editing.
I suspect, though, that long after I forget what a slog much of "The Moonstone" was to get through, I'll remember its many charms. Betteredge is a particularly fun narrator, given his obsession with Daniel Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe" -- a book he treats as a cross between the Holy Bible and Nostradamus's "Prophecies" -- and his jaundiced eye toward male-female relations. Collins also must have had a ball making Drusilla Clack one of the most judgmental, grating Christian evangelists in English literature. Particularly priceless are the passages in which she wanders around the Verinder household and strategically places religious tracts in spots where family members, she hopes, would just happen upon them, instantly putting her relatives on the path to salvation.
Betteredge and Clack are so compelling that almost every other character in "The Moonstone," with the possible exception of opium addict Ezra Jennings, pales in comparison. Rachel Verinder -- despite being at the book's center as the recipient of the Indian diamond known as the Moonstone, the theft of which the plot revolves around -- isn't as fully drawn as the other characters, perhaps because she never takes over narration of the story. This, in a way, actually demonstrates one of Collins's chief skills as a writer: as each narrator takes his or her turn telling the story, that section of the book really becomes more about him or her than about the plot.
And that, ultimately, is what makes "The Moonstone" an interesting book. Despite being such an early and influential mystery novel -- it predated Arthur Conan Doyle's introduction of Sherlock Holmes by almost two decades -- it's really more about the characters themselves, their view of the world, and the decisions they make than it is about solving the mystery of the diamond's disappearance. It's a shame that more of today's mystery novelists haven't learned that lesson from "The Moonstone."
In retrospect, I realize I'm perhaps making "The Moonstone" sound like more of a four-star book, but trust me: the long, drawn-out sections of the book really are incredibly long and drawn out. I cannot overstate just how much this book tests the reader's patience, and for scores of pages at a time.
I suspect, though, that long after I forget what a slog much of "The Moonstone" was to get through, I'll remember its many charms. Betteredge is a particularly fun narrator, given his obsession with Daniel Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe" -- a book he treats as a cross between the Holy Bible and Nostradamus's "Prophecies" -- and his jaundiced eye toward male-female relations. Collins also must have had a ball making Drusilla Clack one of the most judgmental, grating Christian evangelists in English literature. Particularly priceless are the passages in which she wanders around the Verinder household and strategically places religious tracts in spots where family members, she hopes, would just happen upon them, instantly putting her relatives on the path to salvation.
Betteredge and Clack are so compelling that almost every other character in "The Moonstone," with the possible exception of opium addict Ezra Jennings, pales in comparison. Rachel Verinder -- despite being at the book's center as the recipient of the Indian diamond known as the Moonstone, the theft of which the plot revolves around -- isn't as fully drawn as the other characters, perhaps because she never takes over narration of the story. This, in a way, actually demonstrates one of Collins's chief skills as a writer: as each narrator takes his or her turn telling the story, that section of the book really becomes more about him or her than about the plot.
And that, ultimately, is what makes "The Moonstone" an interesting book. Despite being such an early and influential mystery novel -- it predated Arthur Conan Doyle's introduction of Sherlock Holmes by almost two decades -- it's really more about the characters themselves, their view of the world, and the decisions they make than it is about solving the mystery of the diamond's disappearance. It's a shame that more of today's mystery novelists haven't learned that lesson from "The Moonstone."
In retrospect, I realize I'm perhaps making "The Moonstone" sound like more of a four-star book, but trust me: the long, drawn-out sections of the book really are incredibly long and drawn out. I cannot overstate just how much this book tests the reader's patience, and for scores of pages at a time.
January 28, 2018
The Moonstone is known as the first detective novel*, and it's a cracking one. You can see things invented here that were directly borrowed by future writers: Holmes' overconfidence (and his use of London urchins as agents); Agatha Christie's exploration of narrative reliability.
* as opposed to Poe's Dupin, which was the first detective story - I know, we're splitting hairs.
And if the mystery's not enough for you, how about mysterious Oriental cultures? Romance? Quicksand?* Opium? This is a ludicrously entertaining book, almost on the level of Count of Monte Cristo for sheer kicks.
* Things I Was Super On The Watch For When I Was A Kid And It Turns Out They Are Not Actually Things
- Alligators
- Amnesia
- Chloroform-soaked rags
- Razors in apples
- Steamrollers
- Quicksand
It shares with Collins' other masterpiece, The Woman in White, a preoccupation with narrative - from different sources, in different voices, with varying motives and degrees of reliability. Like Woman in White, it's set up like a court case: a series of witnesses come forward to tell their part of the story in more or less chronological order, while commenting on (and insulting) each other's narratives. Many characters also cite other texts: Betteredge is obsessed with Robinson Crusoe; Miss Clack carts around a variety of religious tracts, all of which are made up, which sucks because how badly do you want to read "Satan in the Hairbrush" and "A Word With You On Your Cap Ribbons"? Pretty bad, man - and finally, Ezra Jennings will cite De Quincey's landmark drug memoir Memoirs of an Opium Eater.
Which, by the way: unlike Woman in White (1860), The Moonstone (1868) was written while Collins was deep in the throes of a laudanum addiction, and the whole thing can be seen as, more or less, about opium.
Also unlike Woman in White, which features one of my all-time favorite female heroines, the diamond-sharp Miss Halcombe, The Moonstone has an awkward relationship to women. Many of its narrators are prone to statements like this:
Woman in White just edges out Moonstone for me as my favorite Collins. Its characters - Miss Halcombe and the mighty Count Fosco - are more indelible than Moonstone's. But The Moonstone includes a thinly disguised Richard Burton, as well as the terrifically bitchy Miss Clack...look, here's my secret: I like Collins better than his buddy Dickens. This book is a gang of fun.
* as opposed to Poe's Dupin, which was the first detective story - I know, we're splitting hairs.
And if the mystery's not enough for you, how about mysterious Oriental cultures? Romance? Quicksand?* Opium? This is a ludicrously entertaining book, almost on the level of Count of Monte Cristo for sheer kicks.
* Things I Was Super On The Watch For When I Was A Kid And It Turns Out They Are Not Actually Things
- Alligators
- Amnesia
- Chloroform-soaked rags
- Razors in apples
- Steamrollers
- Quicksand
It shares with Collins' other masterpiece, The Woman in White, a preoccupation with narrative - from different sources, in different voices, with varying motives and degrees of reliability. Like Woman in White, it's set up like a court case: a series of witnesses come forward to tell their part of the story in more or less chronological order, while commenting on (and insulting) each other's narratives. Many characters also cite other texts: Betteredge is obsessed with Robinson Crusoe; Miss Clack carts around a variety of religious tracts, all of which are made up, which sucks because how badly do you want to read "Satan in the Hairbrush" and "A Word With You On Your Cap Ribbons"? Pretty bad, man - and finally, Ezra Jennings will cite De Quincey's landmark drug memoir Memoirs of an Opium Eater.
Which, by the way: unlike Woman in White (1860), The Moonstone (1868) was written while Collins was deep in the throes of a laudanum addiction, and the whole thing can be seen as, more or less, about opium.
Also unlike Woman in White, which features one of my all-time favorite female heroines, the diamond-sharp Miss Halcombe, The Moonstone has an awkward relationship to women. Many of its narrators are prone to statements like this:
"Men (being superior creatures) are bound to improve women - if they can. When a woman wants me to do anything, I always insist on knowing why. The oftener you make them rummage their own minds for a reason, the more manageable you will find them in all the relations of life.The first couple times you see stuff like this you can figure Collins means for you to laugh at it - but after like ten different people say things along similar lines, you do start to wonder a little.
Woman in White just edges out Moonstone for me as my favorite Collins. Its characters - Miss Halcombe and the mighty Count Fosco - are more indelible than Moonstone's. But The Moonstone includes a thinly disguised Richard Burton, as well as the terrifically bitchy Miss Clack...look, here's my secret: I like Collins better than his buddy Dickens. This book is a gang of fun.
Read
June 10, 2021I finished this book several days ago but couldn't motivate myself to add it to my goodreads shelves or write a review. It's as if the weight of the tons of words in the text has paralysed me. What's more, I knew what I was getting into. I read just before this one and it left me with a similar lethargy. The only thing I was able to do after finishing it was pick up The Moonstone as if my mind had been taken over by a rabid Wilkie Collins fan. Today, I'm beginning to emerge from the stupor, and I feel able to make a guess at why Collins's writing bewitched me enough to make me read two of his books yet numbed me so much at the same time.
The stories in the two books are told in the same long-winded way: each book traces the exact history of a series of mysterious events by making the characters who were most closely connected with each stage of the events, narrate their experience, word for word.
Word for word really means word for word in Wilkie Collins land. The many narrators outdo each other in the care they take to tell every single thing they observed while at the same time not revealing anything that they learned after the period which their part of the narrative covers. It's all very artificial and more than a bit painful. The narrators also specialize in adding extra details according to their particular brand of whimsy, and some of them are very whimsical indeed. The details in many cases have nothing to do with the central mystery of either book. What's more, the mysteries when finally revealed hardly merit all the time and effort spent on recording them so painstakingly...
Two days later.
I didn't finish writing this review the other day because I fell back into a stupor. I think it was the very fact of describing why I'd fallen into a stupor in the first place that caused it to descend on me again. I've read a book by a different author in the meantime鈥攖hough not before I'd read a page of a third Wilkie Collins book I'd downloaded while my mind was still in the control of the Wilkie Collins fan. Fortunately I saved myself in time and deleted it from my kindle before it got hold of me.
Well, the refreshing book I've finished since has cleared the fog in my brain somewhat (though I'm still prone to moments of utter blankness) and now I'm able to explain why I was bewitched enough to read two Collins books. It's because of a few of the narrators: Frederick Fairlie in is so obnoxious yet so funny that he manages to relieve the ridiculous seriousness of that book, which is no small achievement; Sergeant Cuff in The Moonstone is amusing too, as is Miss Clack鈥攚hen she isn't quoting from her huge fund of religious tracts. And then there's Gabriel Betteridge who really does know how to tell a story鈥擨 just wished he had a better story to tell. I wondered if his storytelling ability came from the fact that he'd read so often he knew it by heart? It was impossible not to warm to a character who loved reading as much as Gabriel Betteredge did.
The stories in the two books are told in the same long-winded way: each book traces the exact history of a series of mysterious events by making the characters who were most closely connected with each stage of the events, narrate their experience, word for word.
Word for word really means word for word in Wilkie Collins land. The many narrators outdo each other in the care they take to tell every single thing they observed while at the same time not revealing anything that they learned after the period which their part of the narrative covers. It's all very artificial and more than a bit painful. The narrators also specialize in adding extra details according to their particular brand of whimsy, and some of them are very whimsical indeed. The details in many cases have nothing to do with the central mystery of either book. What's more, the mysteries when finally revealed hardly merit all the time and effort spent on recording them so painstakingly...
Two days later.
I didn't finish writing this review the other day because I fell back into a stupor. I think it was the very fact of describing why I'd fallen into a stupor in the first place that caused it to descend on me again. I've read a book by a different author in the meantime鈥攖hough not before I'd read a page of a third Wilkie Collins book I'd downloaded while my mind was still in the control of the Wilkie Collins fan. Fortunately I saved myself in time and deleted it from my kindle before it got hold of me.
Well, the refreshing book I've finished since has cleared the fog in my brain somewhat (though I'm still prone to moments of utter blankness) and now I'm able to explain why I was bewitched enough to read two Collins books. It's because of a few of the narrators: Frederick Fairlie in is so obnoxious yet so funny that he manages to relieve the ridiculous seriousness of that book, which is no small achievement; Sergeant Cuff in The Moonstone is amusing too, as is Miss Clack鈥攚hen she isn't quoting from her huge fund of religious tracts. And then there's Gabriel Betteridge who really does know how to tell a story鈥擨 just wished he had a better story to tell. I wondered if his storytelling ability came from the fact that he'd read so often he knew it by heart? It was impossible not to warm to a character who loved reading as much as Gabriel Betteredge did.
December 22, 2024
The only London house Charles Dickens lived in which is still standing, is at 48 Doughty St. It has been converted into a museum, and at the moment is showing an exhibition called 鈥淢utual Friends: The Adventures of Charles Dickens & Wilkie Collins鈥�. Yet this is a museum devoted to the life and works of Charles Dickens! Even the name of the exhibition is a clever pun on one of Dickens鈥檚 novels.
Wilkie Collins wrote more than twenty novels and around 100 short stories, as well as a dozen plays, numerous essays and pieces of journalism. His books have attracted readers for a more than a century and a half and his unconventional lifestyle has intrigued the literary world for nearly as long. So apart from having a similarly large output, and living in the 19th century, what do these two authors have to do with one another?
The answer is that Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins wrote many works together. Their catalyst was Dickens鈥檚 close friend, mentor (and ultimately biographer) John Forster. Both men surrounded themselves with a vibrant circle of authors, artists, playwrights and performers, and although Dickens had many friends, his friendship and collaboration with Wilkie Collins was to become one of the most significant partnerships of both their lives.
It was on 12th March 1851, at John Forster鈥檚 house, where this life-changing event occurred. Charles Dickens was introduced to a young man who was a law student at Lincoln鈥檚 Inn, but also, like himself, was an amateur actor performing in a mutual friend鈥檚 play. So began a personal and professional relationship that would last over 15 years.
Charles Dickens quickly became Wilkie Collins鈥檚 friend and mentor, and went on to publish Collins鈥檚 story 鈥淎 Terribly Strange Bed鈥� in April 1852 in his magazine: 鈥淗ousehold Words鈥�. The story was very popular, and is still often published in modern anthologies of 鈥淭error and the Supernatural鈥�. From then on they became such good friends that Wilkie Collins wrote in a letter: 鈥淲e saw each other every day, and were as fond of each other as men could be. Nobody (my own dear mother excepted, of course) felt so positively sure of the future before me in literature, as Dickens did.鈥� Wilkie Collins joined the permanent staff of Dickens鈥檚 first magazine in November 1856, at a weekly salary of 5 guineas.
Despite the fact that Dickens was 12 years older than Wilkie Collins, the two authors worked together many times, their special annual Christmas numbers becoming a firm favourite with the public. In fact Collins was sometimes unkindly referred to 鈥渢he Dickensian Ampersand鈥�, because of the sheer number of works they collaborated on鈥攊nevitably referred to as works by 鈥淐harles Dickens & Wilkie Collins鈥� rather than the other way round. Nevertheless, Wilkie Collins was one of the best known, best loved, and for a time, best paid Victorian fiction writers. He outlived his friend by 19 years, albeit in bad health, but still writing.
Wilkie Collins鈥檚 first serialised novel for Dickens鈥檚 magazine was 鈥淭he Woman in White鈥� in 1859, and officially he stopped being an 鈥渋n-house鈥� author for Dickens in April 1861, in the middle of his serial novel 鈥淣o Name鈥�, which Dickens admired and thought very clever. It continued to be published in his new showcase magazine 鈥淎ll the Year Round鈥� into 1862. The two authors had differences of opinion, but complemented each other well. Afterwards Dickens managed to lure Wilkie Collins back now and then, including for The Moonstone, his final serialised novel in 1868. This was just two years before Dickens鈥檚 death. It was Wilkie Collins鈥檚 last great success, coming at the end of a very productive period in which four successive novels became bestsellers.
As I write, it is exactly 200 years ago that Wilkie Collins was born. His works are 鈥渃lassics鈥�, with observations still relevant to contemporary life. However The Moonstone is also remembered for another significant reason.
The Moonstone: A Romance by Wilkie Collins was described by T.S. Eliot as 鈥渢he first and greatest of English detective novels鈥�. It was certainly one of the earliest detective novels in English, as we understand the term today, and established many of our modern ground rules. It influenced Wilkie Collins鈥檚 successors from Anthony Trollope and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle onwards, setting the standard by which all other detective novels are judged. This is quite an astonishing accomplishment for someone who was originally considered to be 鈥渢he Dickensian Ampersand鈥�!
The Moonstone could also lay claim to being the earliest clear example of the police procedural genre, although it is told through letters by the characters. Epistolary novels such as this are rare now, but were very popular with Victorians, and were a favourite technique of Wilkie Collins. In fact during its original serialisation in 鈥淎ll the Year Round鈥�, there were crowds of anxious readers outside the publishers鈥� offices in Wellington Street waiting for the next installment, just as they did with Dickens own serials, from 鈥淭he Old Curiosity Shop鈥� onwards. Both The Moonstone and the earlier 鈥淭he Woman in White鈥� have never been out of print.
Both authors wrote great stories with ingenious plots, and none more so than The Moonstone鈥檚 was to prove. However Wilkie Collins鈥檚 prose was spare and direct, lacking the poetry and allusions of Dickens鈥檚. He did not have the panoply of characters following their own complex, intertwining or parallel stories that Dickens did. Instead, what the reading public enjoyed about Wilkie Collins was his sensational stories, with subtlety of characterisation, and realistic psychological portrayals.
And that is what we still enjoy about The Moonstone. Collins wrote page-turners, but a re-reading of the novel is as delightful as a first reading, (which is another sign of a true classic). We get to know these characters, believe in them totally through all their trials and tribulations, and are sad when the novel is finished and we have to leave them behind. It is unusual for a detective novel to absorb our attention in quite this way. We may be caught up in its plot, but sometimes the characters in detective novels do not have much depth. Such shallow characters abounded in the 19th century too.
Although The Moonstone is generally considered to be the first detective novel it should perhaps be described as the first 鈥渞espectable鈥� one. There were earlier detective stories, in particular the 19th-century British publishing phenomenon known as 鈥減enny dreadfuls鈥�, first published in the 1830s but going right through to the 1870s. They were printed on cheap paper, in weekly parts of 8 to 16 pages, and selling for a penny an installment. Popular recurring characters were featured, such as Sweeney Todd, Dick Turpin, Varney the Vampire, and Spring-heeled Jack. But the public were predisposed to expect something superior from Wilkie Collins, who was by now an established author. Moreover The Moonstone was not a 鈥減enny dreadful鈥� story, but was published in the greatly respected Charles Dickens鈥檚 magazine.
Ironically enough though, the plot is not a million miles removed from that of a classic penny dreadful. The precious moonstone of the title is not a softly glowing semi-precious felspar gemstone as we might expect, but a colloquially named magnificent yellow diamond, which is reputed to have mystical powers. It is associated with the Hindu god of the Moon, Chandra, and protected by three hereditary guardians, who believe this is on the orders of Vishnu. The Moonstone is said to vary in brilliance along with the waxing and waning of the Moon 鈥� and it has disappeared. These three religious figures, strange and alien to the eyes of the English gentry, may or may not have been involved in its theft.
I did worry about the representation of people from the Indian subcontinent in a Victorian novel. So often the descriptions are offensive to modern perceptions, such as attempts at amusing caricatures鈥攅ven in my beloved Dickens! Here though, I need not have worried. Wilkie Collins has given an impression of wealthy English people feeling menaced by the unknown and exotic, without specifics. It is all suggestion, and the one character we get to know in depth who does hail from India is a delight; in fact a tragic character, and the most honourable and upright person imaginable. Ezra Jennings鈥檚 is a sad tale of ill-health, undeserved prejudice and sheer bad luck.
Modern detective novels often have one officer and their sidekick. Here we have two competing detective figures: the irresistible Sergeant Cuff of Scotland Yard, with his penchant for growing roses (and insistence that his way is better than the chief steward鈥檚). He keeps his own counsel about his suspicions, and is wise enough to keep notes about this, since nobody believes him at the time. Then there is Franklin Blake, a sort of amateur sleuth, but who appeals to our 21st century point of view as he has鈥攗nusually for the time鈥攍ived in and been shaped by several different cultures.
Technically of course Superintendent Seegrave is the senior officer, but the Police Commissioner鈥檚 word is law. This is bound to cause resentment, in a house where emotions are already running high. But we enjoy the sulky slowness of the superintendent, and the insight and asperity of St. Cuff
Sergeant Cuff owes a lot to Dickens鈥檚 own Inspector Bucket fifteen years earlier, in the serial novel 鈥淏leak House鈥� (published in 1853). Wilkie Collins may have written the first English detective novel, but we should look to Inspector Bucket for the first important detective in English literature. This middle-aged, friendly and honest man is by temperament philosophical, and tolerant of human follies. It is his logic and sheer tenacity which is his outstanding quality as a policeman, as he patiently observes people and draws conclusions. The two policemen have this in common, and it is interesting to wonder just how much Dickens and Collins shared their thoughts about their invented characters.
Just like in a Dickens novel, we find the characters in The Moonstone engaging. The main narrator Gabriel Betteredge, the head steward, gets our attention (and our smiles of delight) right from the start as he talks about how much he loves the book 鈥淩obinson Crusoe鈥�:
鈥淚 have tried that book for years鈥攇enerally in combination with a pipe of tobacco鈥攁nd I have found it my friend in need in all the necessities of this mortal life. When my spirits are bad鈥擱obinson Crusoe. When I want advice鈥擱obinson Crusoe. In past times when my wife plagued me; in present times when I have had a drop too much鈥擱obinson Crusoe.鈥�
Throughout the book Betteredge entertains us with his quirkiness. He has such a wry, droll sense of humour and we are always on his side. Nevertheless, it has to be said that the novel does begin in a roundabout way. First we have 2 prefaces. Then we have a prologue, which establishes the history of the jewel, taken from a factual historical event. Then we have the title 鈥淭he Story鈥濃€� but at the end of chapter 1, Gabriel Betteredge decides he has got off the point, and starts again with chapter 2. Would you believe it, but at the end of chapter 2 he does the same thing, and starts again in chapter 3鈥攁nd again in chapter 4! It was a popular style for Victorian fiction to be prolix and discursive, but Betteredge continues to meander about and apologise鈥攁nd it is hilarious! Dickens used to find the roundabout way his friend had of starting a novel infuriating, and often complained to Collins about it. But in fact it is a clever way of imparting quite a lot of information to us, whilst fooling us into believing we are merely being entertained.
Dickens could never have written like this, and he also disliked Collins鈥檚 habit of writing epistolary tales. It was a bone of contention even at the beginning, when Charles Dickens was Wilkie Collins鈥檚 editor. After 鈥淭he Woman in White鈥�, when they had been discussing a short story which Wilkie Collins was going to contribute to the Christmas edition of 鈥淎ll the Year Round鈥�, Charles Dickens wrote to Georgina Hogarth (his sister-in-law and confidante):
鈥淲ilkie brought his part of the Xmas No. to dinner yesterday. I hope it will be good. But is it not an extraordinary thing that it began: 鈥業 have undertaken to take pen in hand, to set down in writing etc. etc.鈥� 鈥� like the W in W (Woman in White) narratives? Of course, I at once pointed out the necessity of cancelling that 鈥︹€�
This was very early in their relationship, so clearly Wilkie Collins took not a bit of notice, and carried on in his own sweet way. The two authors are surprisingly different in their styles. Wilkie Collins sticks to just a few characters, and few鈥攊f any鈥攃ameos. We get to know them very well; the misunderstood second housemaid Rosanna Spearman; Lucy Yolland, her confidential friend; and Penelope, Gabriel Betteredge鈥檚 daughter, whom he relies on to tell him information he might not otherwise be privy to. There is Mr Murthwaite, another noted adventurer like Franklin Blake; and Dr Thomas Candy, the family physician. All have their own part to play in this well-plotted story, where even what we suspect to be red herrings are ultimately revealed to be pertinent facts.
There is Matthew Bruff, the family solicitor; and Godfrey Ablewhite, a philanthropist and lay preacher, much admired by Miss Clack鈥攚ho herself provides us with a complete contrast to Betteredge ...
The sanctimonious Miss Drusilla Clack has a seemingly endless supply of Christian religious tracts. She is someone whom everyone tries to avoid except us. We sit openmouthed, loving to read the appalling descriptions of her steamrolling her way through meetings and drawing rooms alike.
Several of these are narrators in The Moonstone, and this technique is again a clever way to tell a mystery story. Not only do we have exactly the information the author wants us to have at each point, but also we get to know the personalities and biases of each character. For instance we know that Betteredge reads 鈥淩obinson Crusoe鈥� for comfort, and guidance on how to act. Similarly his prejudices against women are humorous rather than offensive. His views are paternalistic but kindly. Wilkie Collins himself was a pioneer campaigner for women鈥檚 rights, and knew how to paint this picture subtly. Betteredge is simply na茂ve, and has no malice. He is happy with his place in the household and the world. He is an upright man who is delighted to be the conveyor of information for us.
We have seen Wilkie Collins painting a morally hypocritical female, but he writes a strong woman of a very different sort in Rachel Verinder. Rachel is a modern, thinking woman in the way of becoming very much in love with another character, whom she suspects of thievery.
It is Rachel who is now the owner of the priceless Indian diamond. For an unfathomable reason, she has inherited the jewel for her eighteenth birthday from her uncle, an army officer who served in India, but whom she had never met. As the story proceeds we see that Rachel knows her own mind, and is not afraid to challenge her mother, Lady Julia, and act according to what she herself thinks is right.
The success of The Moonstone was partly due to the growing public interest in stories of detection, as police work became increasing sophisticated. It was one of the first novels to put the emphasis on the growing use of forensic science and how the police used rational deduction to solve crimes. Earlier novels had tended to be written from the point of view of the criminal, or to concentrate on the social conditions which would make a crime more likely. Yet even so, Wilkie Collins鈥檚 popularity began to decline after this landmark novel.
The reason for the sudden change, and halt as a literary best-selling author, is rather sad. In his second Preface from 1871 Wilkie Collins tells his readers how two personal calamities hit him at once, when he was only a third of the way through The Moonstone. His mother died, and he was stricken with the gout which was to plague him for the rest of his life. He had to dictate the rest of the book. In consequence, he began to write novels which contained more overt social commentary, and these did not attract the same popularity. Although he was to live for 21 more years, The Moonstone still outshines Collins鈥檚 later works.
The Moonstone was a great success with the public, but after his initial excitement about it Dickens鈥檚 enthusiam began to wane. This seems odd, because the episodes of this story had increased the circulation of 鈥淎ll the Year Round鈥� more than any other novel so far鈥攊ncluding his own popular ones 鈥淎 Tale of Two Cities鈥� (1859) and even 鈥淕reat Expectations鈥� (1861).
However, something similar had happened before. The first weekly installment of Wilkie Collins鈥檚 鈥淭he Woman in White鈥� had appeared in the same edition of 鈥淎ll the Year Round鈥� along with the final installment of 鈥淎 Tale of Two Cities鈥� (26th November 1859). But by the end of 鈥淭he Woman in White鈥� in July 1860, sales of the journal were up! The critics may have had a mixed reception, but in the eyes of the public, Collins鈥檚 sensation novels were a huge success. Collins even adapted The Moonstone for the stage in 1877.
That success continues today, with many dramatisations of both 鈥淭he Woman in White鈥� and The Moonstone. People are still caught up in the intrigue and mysteries of these stories. The latest is an excellent BBC miniseries from 2016 and stars David Calder, Sophie Ward, Jeremy Swift, Guy Henry and Jag Sanghera etc. It has 5 episodes of 45 minutes each.
What many people look for in a mystery story is a simple 鈥渨hodunnit鈥�. Will you guess the culprit in this case? You might, if you are familar with Victorian tropes, just as you might in a modern crime novel, if you pick up the clues. It is quite a complex plot, although with far fewer characters than Dickens novel and a more direct story line. The ending is perhaps not what you expect, but I personally feel is exactly right.
鈥淚f half the stories I have heard are true, when it comes to unravelling a mystery, there isn鈥檛 the equal in England of Sergeant Cuff!鈥�
I shall no doubt enjoy seeing the current exhibition at the Charles Dickens Museum, and actually being in the room where these two great authors鈥� collaborations took place.
Wilkie Collins wrote more than twenty novels and around 100 short stories, as well as a dozen plays, numerous essays and pieces of journalism. His books have attracted readers for a more than a century and a half and his unconventional lifestyle has intrigued the literary world for nearly as long. So apart from having a similarly large output, and living in the 19th century, what do these two authors have to do with one another?
The answer is that Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins wrote many works together. Their catalyst was Dickens鈥檚 close friend, mentor (and ultimately biographer) John Forster. Both men surrounded themselves with a vibrant circle of authors, artists, playwrights and performers, and although Dickens had many friends, his friendship and collaboration with Wilkie Collins was to become one of the most significant partnerships of both their lives.
It was on 12th March 1851, at John Forster鈥檚 house, where this life-changing event occurred. Charles Dickens was introduced to a young man who was a law student at Lincoln鈥檚 Inn, but also, like himself, was an amateur actor performing in a mutual friend鈥檚 play. So began a personal and professional relationship that would last over 15 years.
Charles Dickens quickly became Wilkie Collins鈥檚 friend and mentor, and went on to publish Collins鈥檚 story 鈥淎 Terribly Strange Bed鈥� in April 1852 in his magazine: 鈥淗ousehold Words鈥�. The story was very popular, and is still often published in modern anthologies of 鈥淭error and the Supernatural鈥�. From then on they became such good friends that Wilkie Collins wrote in a letter: 鈥淲e saw each other every day, and were as fond of each other as men could be. Nobody (my own dear mother excepted, of course) felt so positively sure of the future before me in literature, as Dickens did.鈥� Wilkie Collins joined the permanent staff of Dickens鈥檚 first magazine in November 1856, at a weekly salary of 5 guineas.
Despite the fact that Dickens was 12 years older than Wilkie Collins, the two authors worked together many times, their special annual Christmas numbers becoming a firm favourite with the public. In fact Collins was sometimes unkindly referred to 鈥渢he Dickensian Ampersand鈥�, because of the sheer number of works they collaborated on鈥攊nevitably referred to as works by 鈥淐harles Dickens & Wilkie Collins鈥� rather than the other way round. Nevertheless, Wilkie Collins was one of the best known, best loved, and for a time, best paid Victorian fiction writers. He outlived his friend by 19 years, albeit in bad health, but still writing.
Wilkie Collins鈥檚 first serialised novel for Dickens鈥檚 magazine was 鈥淭he Woman in White鈥� in 1859, and officially he stopped being an 鈥渋n-house鈥� author for Dickens in April 1861, in the middle of his serial novel 鈥淣o Name鈥�, which Dickens admired and thought very clever. It continued to be published in his new showcase magazine 鈥淎ll the Year Round鈥� into 1862. The two authors had differences of opinion, but complemented each other well. Afterwards Dickens managed to lure Wilkie Collins back now and then, including for The Moonstone, his final serialised novel in 1868. This was just two years before Dickens鈥檚 death. It was Wilkie Collins鈥檚 last great success, coming at the end of a very productive period in which four successive novels became bestsellers.
As I write, it is exactly 200 years ago that Wilkie Collins was born. His works are 鈥渃lassics鈥�, with observations still relevant to contemporary life. However The Moonstone is also remembered for another significant reason.
The Moonstone: A Romance by Wilkie Collins was described by T.S. Eliot as 鈥渢he first and greatest of English detective novels鈥�. It was certainly one of the earliest detective novels in English, as we understand the term today, and established many of our modern ground rules. It influenced Wilkie Collins鈥檚 successors from Anthony Trollope and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle onwards, setting the standard by which all other detective novels are judged. This is quite an astonishing accomplishment for someone who was originally considered to be 鈥渢he Dickensian Ampersand鈥�!
The Moonstone could also lay claim to being the earliest clear example of the police procedural genre, although it is told through letters by the characters. Epistolary novels such as this are rare now, but were very popular with Victorians, and were a favourite technique of Wilkie Collins. In fact during its original serialisation in 鈥淎ll the Year Round鈥�, there were crowds of anxious readers outside the publishers鈥� offices in Wellington Street waiting for the next installment, just as they did with Dickens own serials, from 鈥淭he Old Curiosity Shop鈥� onwards. Both The Moonstone and the earlier 鈥淭he Woman in White鈥� have never been out of print.
Both authors wrote great stories with ingenious plots, and none more so than The Moonstone鈥檚 was to prove. However Wilkie Collins鈥檚 prose was spare and direct, lacking the poetry and allusions of Dickens鈥檚. He did not have the panoply of characters following their own complex, intertwining or parallel stories that Dickens did. Instead, what the reading public enjoyed about Wilkie Collins was his sensational stories, with subtlety of characterisation, and realistic psychological portrayals.
And that is what we still enjoy about The Moonstone. Collins wrote page-turners, but a re-reading of the novel is as delightful as a first reading, (which is another sign of a true classic). We get to know these characters, believe in them totally through all their trials and tribulations, and are sad when the novel is finished and we have to leave them behind. It is unusual for a detective novel to absorb our attention in quite this way. We may be caught up in its plot, but sometimes the characters in detective novels do not have much depth. Such shallow characters abounded in the 19th century too.
Although The Moonstone is generally considered to be the first detective novel it should perhaps be described as the first 鈥渞espectable鈥� one. There were earlier detective stories, in particular the 19th-century British publishing phenomenon known as 鈥減enny dreadfuls鈥�, first published in the 1830s but going right through to the 1870s. They were printed on cheap paper, in weekly parts of 8 to 16 pages, and selling for a penny an installment. Popular recurring characters were featured, such as Sweeney Todd, Dick Turpin, Varney the Vampire, and Spring-heeled Jack. But the public were predisposed to expect something superior from Wilkie Collins, who was by now an established author. Moreover The Moonstone was not a 鈥減enny dreadful鈥� story, but was published in the greatly respected Charles Dickens鈥檚 magazine.
Ironically enough though, the plot is not a million miles removed from that of a classic penny dreadful. The precious moonstone of the title is not a softly glowing semi-precious felspar gemstone as we might expect, but a colloquially named magnificent yellow diamond, which is reputed to have mystical powers. It is associated with the Hindu god of the Moon, Chandra, and protected by three hereditary guardians, who believe this is on the orders of Vishnu. The Moonstone is said to vary in brilliance along with the waxing and waning of the Moon 鈥� and it has disappeared. These three religious figures, strange and alien to the eyes of the English gentry, may or may not have been involved in its theft.
I did worry about the representation of people from the Indian subcontinent in a Victorian novel. So often the descriptions are offensive to modern perceptions, such as attempts at amusing caricatures鈥攅ven in my beloved Dickens! Here though, I need not have worried. Wilkie Collins has given an impression of wealthy English people feeling menaced by the unknown and exotic, without specifics. It is all suggestion, and the one character we get to know in depth who does hail from India is a delight; in fact a tragic character, and the most honourable and upright person imaginable. Ezra Jennings鈥檚 is a sad tale of ill-health, undeserved prejudice and sheer bad luck.
Modern detective novels often have one officer and their sidekick. Here we have two competing detective figures: the irresistible Sergeant Cuff of Scotland Yard, with his penchant for growing roses (and insistence that his way is better than the chief steward鈥檚). He keeps his own counsel about his suspicions, and is wise enough to keep notes about this, since nobody believes him at the time. Then there is Franklin Blake, a sort of amateur sleuth, but who appeals to our 21st century point of view as he has鈥攗nusually for the time鈥攍ived in and been shaped by several different cultures.
Technically of course Superintendent Seegrave is the senior officer, but the Police Commissioner鈥檚 word is law. This is bound to cause resentment, in a house where emotions are already running high. But we enjoy the sulky slowness of the superintendent, and the insight and asperity of St. Cuff
Sergeant Cuff owes a lot to Dickens鈥檚 own Inspector Bucket fifteen years earlier, in the serial novel 鈥淏leak House鈥� (published in 1853). Wilkie Collins may have written the first English detective novel, but we should look to Inspector Bucket for the first important detective in English literature. This middle-aged, friendly and honest man is by temperament philosophical, and tolerant of human follies. It is his logic and sheer tenacity which is his outstanding quality as a policeman, as he patiently observes people and draws conclusions. The two policemen have this in common, and it is interesting to wonder just how much Dickens and Collins shared their thoughts about their invented characters.
Just like in a Dickens novel, we find the characters in The Moonstone engaging. The main narrator Gabriel Betteredge, the head steward, gets our attention (and our smiles of delight) right from the start as he talks about how much he loves the book 鈥淩obinson Crusoe鈥�:
鈥淚 have tried that book for years鈥攇enerally in combination with a pipe of tobacco鈥攁nd I have found it my friend in need in all the necessities of this mortal life. When my spirits are bad鈥擱obinson Crusoe. When I want advice鈥擱obinson Crusoe. In past times when my wife plagued me; in present times when I have had a drop too much鈥擱obinson Crusoe.鈥�
Throughout the book Betteredge entertains us with his quirkiness. He has such a wry, droll sense of humour and we are always on his side. Nevertheless, it has to be said that the novel does begin in a roundabout way. First we have 2 prefaces. Then we have a prologue, which establishes the history of the jewel, taken from a factual historical event. Then we have the title 鈥淭he Story鈥濃€� but at the end of chapter 1, Gabriel Betteredge decides he has got off the point, and starts again with chapter 2. Would you believe it, but at the end of chapter 2 he does the same thing, and starts again in chapter 3鈥攁nd again in chapter 4! It was a popular style for Victorian fiction to be prolix and discursive, but Betteredge continues to meander about and apologise鈥攁nd it is hilarious! Dickens used to find the roundabout way his friend had of starting a novel infuriating, and often complained to Collins about it. But in fact it is a clever way of imparting quite a lot of information to us, whilst fooling us into believing we are merely being entertained.
Dickens could never have written like this, and he also disliked Collins鈥檚 habit of writing epistolary tales. It was a bone of contention even at the beginning, when Charles Dickens was Wilkie Collins鈥檚 editor. After 鈥淭he Woman in White鈥�, when they had been discussing a short story which Wilkie Collins was going to contribute to the Christmas edition of 鈥淎ll the Year Round鈥�, Charles Dickens wrote to Georgina Hogarth (his sister-in-law and confidante):
鈥淲ilkie brought his part of the Xmas No. to dinner yesterday. I hope it will be good. But is it not an extraordinary thing that it began: 鈥業 have undertaken to take pen in hand, to set down in writing etc. etc.鈥� 鈥� like the W in W (Woman in White) narratives? Of course, I at once pointed out the necessity of cancelling that 鈥︹€�
This was very early in their relationship, so clearly Wilkie Collins took not a bit of notice, and carried on in his own sweet way. The two authors are surprisingly different in their styles. Wilkie Collins sticks to just a few characters, and few鈥攊f any鈥攃ameos. We get to know them very well; the misunderstood second housemaid Rosanna Spearman; Lucy Yolland, her confidential friend; and Penelope, Gabriel Betteredge鈥檚 daughter, whom he relies on to tell him information he might not otherwise be privy to. There is Mr Murthwaite, another noted adventurer like Franklin Blake; and Dr Thomas Candy, the family physician. All have their own part to play in this well-plotted story, where even what we suspect to be red herrings are ultimately revealed to be pertinent facts.
There is Matthew Bruff, the family solicitor; and Godfrey Ablewhite, a philanthropist and lay preacher, much admired by Miss Clack鈥攚ho herself provides us with a complete contrast to Betteredge ...
The sanctimonious Miss Drusilla Clack has a seemingly endless supply of Christian religious tracts. She is someone whom everyone tries to avoid except us. We sit openmouthed, loving to read the appalling descriptions of her steamrolling her way through meetings and drawing rooms alike.
Several of these are narrators in The Moonstone, and this technique is again a clever way to tell a mystery story. Not only do we have exactly the information the author wants us to have at each point, but also we get to know the personalities and biases of each character. For instance we know that Betteredge reads 鈥淩obinson Crusoe鈥� for comfort, and guidance on how to act. Similarly his prejudices against women are humorous rather than offensive. His views are paternalistic but kindly. Wilkie Collins himself was a pioneer campaigner for women鈥檚 rights, and knew how to paint this picture subtly. Betteredge is simply na茂ve, and has no malice. He is happy with his place in the household and the world. He is an upright man who is delighted to be the conveyor of information for us.
We have seen Wilkie Collins painting a morally hypocritical female, but he writes a strong woman of a very different sort in Rachel Verinder. Rachel is a modern, thinking woman in the way of becoming very much in love with another character, whom she suspects of thievery.
It is Rachel who is now the owner of the priceless Indian diamond. For an unfathomable reason, she has inherited the jewel for her eighteenth birthday from her uncle, an army officer who served in India, but whom she had never met. As the story proceeds we see that Rachel knows her own mind, and is not afraid to challenge her mother, Lady Julia, and act according to what she herself thinks is right.
The success of The Moonstone was partly due to the growing public interest in stories of detection, as police work became increasing sophisticated. It was one of the first novels to put the emphasis on the growing use of forensic science and how the police used rational deduction to solve crimes. Earlier novels had tended to be written from the point of view of the criminal, or to concentrate on the social conditions which would make a crime more likely. Yet even so, Wilkie Collins鈥檚 popularity began to decline after this landmark novel.
The reason for the sudden change, and halt as a literary best-selling author, is rather sad. In his second Preface from 1871 Wilkie Collins tells his readers how two personal calamities hit him at once, when he was only a third of the way through The Moonstone. His mother died, and he was stricken with the gout which was to plague him for the rest of his life. He had to dictate the rest of the book. In consequence, he began to write novels which contained more overt social commentary, and these did not attract the same popularity. Although he was to live for 21 more years, The Moonstone still outshines Collins鈥檚 later works.
The Moonstone was a great success with the public, but after his initial excitement about it Dickens鈥檚 enthusiam began to wane. This seems odd, because the episodes of this story had increased the circulation of 鈥淎ll the Year Round鈥� more than any other novel so far鈥攊ncluding his own popular ones 鈥淎 Tale of Two Cities鈥� (1859) and even 鈥淕reat Expectations鈥� (1861).
However, something similar had happened before. The first weekly installment of Wilkie Collins鈥檚 鈥淭he Woman in White鈥� had appeared in the same edition of 鈥淎ll the Year Round鈥� along with the final installment of 鈥淎 Tale of Two Cities鈥� (26th November 1859). But by the end of 鈥淭he Woman in White鈥� in July 1860, sales of the journal were up! The critics may have had a mixed reception, but in the eyes of the public, Collins鈥檚 sensation novels were a huge success. Collins even adapted The Moonstone for the stage in 1877.
That success continues today, with many dramatisations of both 鈥淭he Woman in White鈥� and The Moonstone. People are still caught up in the intrigue and mysteries of these stories. The latest is an excellent BBC miniseries from 2016 and stars David Calder, Sophie Ward, Jeremy Swift, Guy Henry and Jag Sanghera etc. It has 5 episodes of 45 minutes each.
What many people look for in a mystery story is a simple 鈥渨hodunnit鈥�. Will you guess the culprit in this case? You might, if you are familar with Victorian tropes, just as you might in a modern crime novel, if you pick up the clues. It is quite a complex plot, although with far fewer characters than Dickens novel and a more direct story line. The ending is perhaps not what you expect, but I personally feel is exactly right.
鈥淚f half the stories I have heard are true, when it comes to unravelling a mystery, there isn鈥檛 the equal in England of Sergeant Cuff!鈥�
I shall no doubt enjoy seeing the current exhibition at the Charles Dickens Museum, and actually being in the room where these two great authors鈥� collaborations took place.
April 21, 2020
鈥淟a mejor receta para la novela polic铆aca: el detective no debe saber nunca m谩s que el lector.鈥� Agatha Christie
驴De qu茅 manera puede escribirse una obra maestra de seiscientas treinta p谩ginas en la que nunca decae el inter茅s por saber como termina? 驴De qu茅 se compone la genialidad de un escritor para elaborar una historia con tantos giros, ribetes y escenas impensadas sin confundir al lector? 驴Puede un escritor ser tan h谩bil para mantener el suspense en una novela policial que atraves贸 todas las 茅pocas desde que fue publicada all谩 por 1868 y que sigue cautivando a煤n hoy en 2017? Definitivamente s铆 y Wilkie Collins lo logra con la perfecci贸n de los m谩s grandes.
Esta novela es para muchos, uno de las tres mejores novelas policiales de todos los tiempos y todos esos componentes que yo enumero en mis preguntas iniciales lo confirman.
Collins trabaja la historia en cada una de sus partes atada al evento principal que es el robo de un enorme diamante, llamado "la piedra lunar" durante el cumplea帽os n煤mero dieciocho de Miss Rachel Verdiner, pero ese diamante posee toda una historia detr谩s que es la que el autor anticipa en los cap铆tulos iniciales, puesto que de otra manera no entender铆amos c贸mo se suceden los hechos.
La preciosa gema ha sido tra铆da desde un templo de la India en forma indebida y esto le acarrear谩 a los que la posean un sinn煤mero de inconvenientes en los personajes que formaron parte de ese cumplea帽os y que son los que se relatan a lo largo del libro.
Para que todo esto tenga cohesi贸n y solidez, Collins dispone la trama a partir de los testimonios, en gran parte del mayordomo de la familia, Gabriel Betteredge, cuya reconstrucci贸n de lo sucedido, ocupa casi un cuarto de la extensi贸n del libro pero que a la postre es clave para que el lector pueda guiarse en los hechos narrados.
Un dato muy pintoresco acerca de este particular personaje es que utiliza como gu铆a para su vida el libro Robinson Crusoe de Daniel Defoe. Para 茅l es su Biblia y siempre sostiene que muchas de las cosas que sucede en ese libro o las frases de Crusoe dice son casi prof茅ticas para 茅l.
Gabriel Betteredge es un personaje muy especial y esta caracter铆stica logra que el lector sienta una profunda empat铆a para con este pintoresco anciano.
Ahora bien. Betteredge no es el 煤nico de los implicados en esto. No es tan f谩cil arribar al descubrimiento de qui茅n se rob贸 la gema ni de cu谩ntas personas hay implicadas en ello y cu谩les son las verdaderamente sospechosas. Es a partir de los relatos de los otros testigos que comenzamos a desanudar los secretos que la desaparici贸n del diamante esconden.
Jorge Luis Borges, en su brillante pr贸logo de la edici贸n del libro que yo tengo nos revela que Wilkie Collins tiene el honor de haber aportado en la figura del Sargento Cuff alprimer detective brit谩nico de la literatura y es verdad: Sherlock Holmes fue creado por Sir Arthur Conan Doyle reci茅n en 1887 mientras que "La piedra lunar" fue publicada en 1868, o sea 19 a帽os.
Para todo aquel lector desprevenido, comento que estos son detectives brit谩nicos en la literatura. Digo esto porque el creador del g茅nero policial fue mi querido Edgar Allan Poe a partir de "Los cr铆menes de la calle Morgue", cuyo detective Auguste C. Dupin fue el pionero, dado que ese cuento fue publicado en 1841.
Pero volviendo a esta maravillosa novela, nos encontramos con una serie de personajes tan dis铆miles como enigm谩ticos, sospechosos o carism谩ticos. Conoceremos a Rosana Spearman, la enamoradiza criada de la mansi贸n en la que se desarrolla la historia, como dijera previamente, al Sargento Cuff, contratado para dilucidar el misterio del robo, a Franklin Blake, uno de los personajes principales, enamorado de Rachel y que tendr谩 un papel fundamental en todo esto junto al sargento Cuff, Gabriel Betteredge y el abogado Bruff.
Tambi茅n son de vital importancia personajes como Pen茅lope Betteredge, hija del mayordomo, a M铆ster Godfrey Ablewhite, fil谩ntropo y en rivalidad con Francis Blake por el coraz贸n de Rachel, a Miss Clack, la prima pobre de la familia Verinder dominada por un ferviente fanatismo religioso metodista, al abogado de la familia, Matthew Bruff, quien tambi茅n tiene preponderancia en el asunto del esclarecimiento del robo y Ezra Jennings, un personaje que aportar谩 datos clave hacia el final del libro.
Es destacable la manera en que Collins delinea a sus personajes. Con esto me refiero a que trabaja la psicolog铆a, las actitudes y las acciones de los mismo de manera convincente.
El autor puede tanto posicionarse en la piel de una caballero fil谩ntropo como en la piel de un inescrutable abogado, en la brillantez de un m茅dico avezado o pasar del metodismo del sargento Richard Cuff hasta los desvar铆os de una criada ardorosamente enamorada del apuesto Franklin Blake, como es el caso de Rosana Spearman.
En todos los personajes Collins deja su sello y cada una de las partes que interviene en el caso del robo de la piedra lunar aportan sus testimonios que son vitales para la resoluci贸n del caso.
El lector va de un personaje a otro intentado descubrir qui茅n rob贸 efectivamente la gema y las marchas y contramarchas de la trama lo mantienen atento a cada m铆nimo detalle.
Todas las piezas terminan encajando en un sorprendente final como s贸lo Wilkie Collins pod铆a hacerlo.
Como establezco al principio, no cualquier escritor puede escribir una novela policial como esta y mantener la curiosidad, el misterio y la atracci贸n del lector a lo largo de una novela tan extensa.
Tanto lectores como escritores expertos en la materia sostienen que esta es una de las tres mejores novelas policiales de la literatura. Casualmente este a帽o tambi茅n le铆 鈥淒iez negritos鈥� de Agatha Cristie, novela que posiblemente est茅 en ese selecto grupo.
M谩s all谩 de que no soy un lector habitual de novelas policiales me animo a asegurar que dif铆cilmente pueda leer otra que sobrepase en misterio, riqueza t茅cnica literaria y trama argumental como lo que me ha generado 鈥淟a piedra luna鈥� y la otra que indico en esta rese帽a.
Probablemente me recomendar谩n los que saben que lea m谩s novelas de Agatha Cristie, quien es considerada la mejor escritora de novelas policiales de todos los tiempos (y creo que en eso no hay discusi贸n).
Ha sido un placer llegar al final para descubrir el robo de la asombrosa piedra lunar.
驴Se animan, ustedes lectores, a intentar descubrirlo como yo lo hice?
驴De qu茅 manera puede escribirse una obra maestra de seiscientas treinta p谩ginas en la que nunca decae el inter茅s por saber como termina? 驴De qu茅 se compone la genialidad de un escritor para elaborar una historia con tantos giros, ribetes y escenas impensadas sin confundir al lector? 驴Puede un escritor ser tan h谩bil para mantener el suspense en una novela policial que atraves贸 todas las 茅pocas desde que fue publicada all谩 por 1868 y que sigue cautivando a煤n hoy en 2017? Definitivamente s铆 y Wilkie Collins lo logra con la perfecci贸n de los m谩s grandes.
Esta novela es para muchos, uno de las tres mejores novelas policiales de todos los tiempos y todos esos componentes que yo enumero en mis preguntas iniciales lo confirman.
Collins trabaja la historia en cada una de sus partes atada al evento principal que es el robo de un enorme diamante, llamado "la piedra lunar" durante el cumplea帽os n煤mero dieciocho de Miss Rachel Verdiner, pero ese diamante posee toda una historia detr谩s que es la que el autor anticipa en los cap铆tulos iniciales, puesto que de otra manera no entender铆amos c贸mo se suceden los hechos.
La preciosa gema ha sido tra铆da desde un templo de la India en forma indebida y esto le acarrear谩 a los que la posean un sinn煤mero de inconvenientes en los personajes que formaron parte de ese cumplea帽os y que son los que se relatan a lo largo del libro.
Para que todo esto tenga cohesi贸n y solidez, Collins dispone la trama a partir de los testimonios, en gran parte del mayordomo de la familia, Gabriel Betteredge, cuya reconstrucci贸n de lo sucedido, ocupa casi un cuarto de la extensi贸n del libro pero que a la postre es clave para que el lector pueda guiarse en los hechos narrados.
Un dato muy pintoresco acerca de este particular personaje es que utiliza como gu铆a para su vida el libro Robinson Crusoe de Daniel Defoe. Para 茅l es su Biblia y siempre sostiene que muchas de las cosas que sucede en ese libro o las frases de Crusoe dice son casi prof茅ticas para 茅l.
Gabriel Betteredge es un personaje muy especial y esta caracter铆stica logra que el lector sienta una profunda empat铆a para con este pintoresco anciano.
Ahora bien. Betteredge no es el 煤nico de los implicados en esto. No es tan f谩cil arribar al descubrimiento de qui茅n se rob贸 la gema ni de cu谩ntas personas hay implicadas en ello y cu谩les son las verdaderamente sospechosas. Es a partir de los relatos de los otros testigos que comenzamos a desanudar los secretos que la desaparici贸n del diamante esconden.
Jorge Luis Borges, en su brillante pr贸logo de la edici贸n del libro que yo tengo nos revela que Wilkie Collins tiene el honor de haber aportado en la figura del Sargento Cuff alprimer detective brit谩nico de la literatura y es verdad: Sherlock Holmes fue creado por Sir Arthur Conan Doyle reci茅n en 1887 mientras que "La piedra lunar" fue publicada en 1868, o sea 19 a帽os.
Para todo aquel lector desprevenido, comento que estos son detectives brit谩nicos en la literatura. Digo esto porque el creador del g茅nero policial fue mi querido Edgar Allan Poe a partir de "Los cr铆menes de la calle Morgue", cuyo detective Auguste C. Dupin fue el pionero, dado que ese cuento fue publicado en 1841.
Pero volviendo a esta maravillosa novela, nos encontramos con una serie de personajes tan dis铆miles como enigm谩ticos, sospechosos o carism谩ticos. Conoceremos a Rosana Spearman, la enamoradiza criada de la mansi贸n en la que se desarrolla la historia, como dijera previamente, al Sargento Cuff, contratado para dilucidar el misterio del robo, a Franklin Blake, uno de los personajes principales, enamorado de Rachel y que tendr谩 un papel fundamental en todo esto junto al sargento Cuff, Gabriel Betteredge y el abogado Bruff.
Tambi茅n son de vital importancia personajes como Pen茅lope Betteredge, hija del mayordomo, a M铆ster Godfrey Ablewhite, fil谩ntropo y en rivalidad con Francis Blake por el coraz贸n de Rachel, a Miss Clack, la prima pobre de la familia Verinder dominada por un ferviente fanatismo religioso metodista, al abogado de la familia, Matthew Bruff, quien tambi茅n tiene preponderancia en el asunto del esclarecimiento del robo y Ezra Jennings, un personaje que aportar谩 datos clave hacia el final del libro.
Es destacable la manera en que Collins delinea a sus personajes. Con esto me refiero a que trabaja la psicolog铆a, las actitudes y las acciones de los mismo de manera convincente.
El autor puede tanto posicionarse en la piel de una caballero fil谩ntropo como en la piel de un inescrutable abogado, en la brillantez de un m茅dico avezado o pasar del metodismo del sargento Richard Cuff hasta los desvar铆os de una criada ardorosamente enamorada del apuesto Franklin Blake, como es el caso de Rosana Spearman.
En todos los personajes Collins deja su sello y cada una de las partes que interviene en el caso del robo de la piedra lunar aportan sus testimonios que son vitales para la resoluci贸n del caso.
El lector va de un personaje a otro intentado descubrir qui茅n rob贸 efectivamente la gema y las marchas y contramarchas de la trama lo mantienen atento a cada m铆nimo detalle.
Todas las piezas terminan encajando en un sorprendente final como s贸lo Wilkie Collins pod铆a hacerlo.
Como establezco al principio, no cualquier escritor puede escribir una novela policial como esta y mantener la curiosidad, el misterio y la atracci贸n del lector a lo largo de una novela tan extensa.
Tanto lectores como escritores expertos en la materia sostienen que esta es una de las tres mejores novelas policiales de la literatura. Casualmente este a帽o tambi茅n le铆 鈥淒iez negritos鈥� de Agatha Cristie, novela que posiblemente est茅 en ese selecto grupo.
M谩s all谩 de que no soy un lector habitual de novelas policiales me animo a asegurar que dif铆cilmente pueda leer otra que sobrepase en misterio, riqueza t茅cnica literaria y trama argumental como lo que me ha generado 鈥淟a piedra luna鈥� y la otra que indico en esta rese帽a.
Probablemente me recomendar谩n los que saben que lea m谩s novelas de Agatha Cristie, quien es considerada la mejor escritora de novelas policiales de todos los tiempos (y creo que en eso no hay discusi贸n).
Ha sido un placer llegar al final para descubrir el robo de la asombrosa piedra lunar.
驴Se animan, ustedes lectores, a intentar descubrirlo como yo lo hice?
November 1, 2022
Though Wilkie Collins was long-time friends with Charles Dickens, they had drastically different writing styles, and suffered some rough patches in their relationship. In a letter to someone, Dickens talks about his thoughts on The Moonstone: "The construction is wearisome beyond endurance, and there is a vein of obstinate conceit in it that makes enemies of readers."
What the heck? Who's this Dickens guy, anyway? What the heck does he know about writing? Sheesh!
I don't know what book the vaunted Mr. Charles Dickens read, but the book I read was absolutely wonderful. It was hilarious, entertaining, smart, and everything else that makes a good novel. Beyond that, it was especially surprising! Being one of the first detective novels, I expected it to be rather dry. Maybe a little dull, or outdated feeling. Perhaps even a bit shallow and boring.
I'm pleased to say, that it was none of these things. For a book written in the mid-1800's this novel has a remarkably modern feel. Though the main plot is a detective-style mystery, there is a wonderful underlying social commentary aspect, all revealed through the lenses of the unique cast of characters. The story is brilliantly told by using various written narratives of different people, all which not only tease us with knowledge of the mystery at just the right pace, but also provide wildly entertaining character studies of the people writing them. From (my favorite character) the chauvinistic old butler, who wants nothing more than to serve his household faithfully while leaning upon the crutch of Robinson Crusoe and his tobacco pipe, to the absolutely, but painfully, hilarious distant cousin who is on a mission to convert everyone to her particular brand of christian values. Each character's narrative is written in their unique voice, and it makes you love them all even when you're hating them.
I think Collins himself puts it perfectly, when he said that, unlike examining the influence of circumstances upon character (as many other novels), this book examines the influence of character upon circumstance. This isn't some novel where you place an average person in an extraordinary situation, and watch what becomes of them. This is a novel where the extraordinary characters are the movers and shakers of the plot. Yet, even as wonderfully unique as these characters are, they are all at the same time, so wonderfully human. With the narrative style Collins chose, we are allowed insight into the characters' thought processes, and feelings; we are able to see more than what actually happens. In many other novels, this approach might generate superfluous noise, but in The Moonstone it keeps the book churning at a page-burning pace, and allows us to appreciate the smaller aspects of the novel, even when the larger parts might normally be prepared to overshadow them.
This book almost feels like one of those "guilty pleasure books" people always try to judge others for reading, but you can hold your head high on this one. It's fun, fast-paced, and riveting, but nobody can accuse it of being shallow. Each character brings not only a unique perspective on the main plot/mystery of the novel, but also a unique perspective on the world around them. Let's explore what I mean with a couple of my favorite gentlefolk, shall we?:
The old butler:
The self-righteous cousin, whose only want is to share her beloved religious tracts*:
Even though I could go on and on with wonderfully entertaining passages, I realize I've already over done it on the quotations, so this humble reviewer must desist before he loses himself.
Basically, read this book. If you like detective novels, or if you like Victorian novels, or if you like novels in general, read this. It's quite fun! The true mark of a great mystery novel is that even if you know or "solved" the mystery, the book still manages to keep your attention and make you want to see the conclusion unfold for yourself. I can't imagine re-reading most mystery novels I can think of, but I can't imagine not re-reading The Moonstone again in the future. It's simply too much fun.
________________________________
*A small, religious pamphlet.
What the heck? Who's this Dickens guy, anyway? What the heck does he know about writing? Sheesh!
I don't know what book the vaunted Mr. Charles Dickens read, but the book I read was absolutely wonderful. It was hilarious, entertaining, smart, and everything else that makes a good novel. Beyond that, it was especially surprising! Being one of the first detective novels, I expected it to be rather dry. Maybe a little dull, or outdated feeling. Perhaps even a bit shallow and boring.
I'm pleased to say, that it was none of these things. For a book written in the mid-1800's this novel has a remarkably modern feel. Though the main plot is a detective-style mystery, there is a wonderful underlying social commentary aspect, all revealed through the lenses of the unique cast of characters. The story is brilliantly told by using various written narratives of different people, all which not only tease us with knowledge of the mystery at just the right pace, but also provide wildly entertaining character studies of the people writing them. From (my favorite character) the chauvinistic old butler, who wants nothing more than to serve his household faithfully while leaning upon the crutch of Robinson Crusoe and his tobacco pipe, to the absolutely, but painfully, hilarious distant cousin who is on a mission to convert everyone to her particular brand of christian values. Each character's narrative is written in their unique voice, and it makes you love them all even when you're hating them.
I think Collins himself puts it perfectly, when he said that, unlike examining the influence of circumstances upon character (as many other novels), this book examines the influence of character upon circumstance. This isn't some novel where you place an average person in an extraordinary situation, and watch what becomes of them. This is a novel where the extraordinary characters are the movers and shakers of the plot. Yet, even as wonderfully unique as these characters are, they are all at the same time, so wonderfully human. With the narrative style Collins chose, we are allowed insight into the characters' thought processes, and feelings; we are able to see more than what actually happens. In many other novels, this approach might generate superfluous noise, but in The Moonstone it keeps the book churning at a page-burning pace, and allows us to appreciate the smaller aspects of the novel, even when the larger parts might normally be prepared to overshadow them.
This book almost feels like one of those "guilty pleasure books" people always try to judge others for reading, but you can hold your head high on this one. It's fun, fast-paced, and riveting, but nobody can accuse it of being shallow. Each character brings not only a unique perspective on the main plot/mystery of the novel, but also a unique perspective on the world around them. Let's explore what I mean with a couple of my favorite gentlefolk, shall we?:
The old butler:
"People in high life have all the luxuries to themselves-among others, the luxury of indulging their feelings. People in low life have no such privilege. Necessity, which spares our betters, has no pity on us. We learn to put our feelings back into ourselves, and to jog on with our duties as patiently as may be. I don't complain of this--I only notice it."
"There's a bottom of good sense, Mr. Franklin, in our conduct to our mothers, when they first start us on the journey of life. We are all of us more or less unwilling to be brought into this world. And we are all of us right."
The self-righteous cousin, whose only want is to share her beloved religious tracts*:
"I paid the cabman exactly his fare. He received it with an oath; upon which I instantly gave him a tract. If I had presented a pistol at his head, this abandoned wretch could hardly have exhibited greater consternation. He jumped up on his box, and, with profane exclamations of dismay, drove off furiously. Quite useless, I am happy to say! I sowed the good seed, in spite of him, by throwing a second tract in at the window of the cab."
"When I folded up my things that night--when I reflected on the true riches which I had scattered with such a lavish hand, from top to bottom of the house of my wealthy aunt--I declare I felt as free from all anxiety as if I had been a child again. I was so lighthearted that I sang a verse of the Evening Hymm. I was so lighthearted that I fell asleep before I could sing another. Quite like a child again! Quite like a child again!
So I passed the blissful night. On rising the next morning, how young I felt! I might add, how young I looked, if I were capable of dwelling on the concerns of my own perishable body. But I am not capable--and I add nothing."
Even though I could go on and on with wonderfully entertaining passages, I realize I've already over done it on the quotations, so this humble reviewer must desist before he loses himself.
Basically, read this book. If you like detective novels, or if you like Victorian novels, or if you like novels in general, read this. It's quite fun! The true mark of a great mystery novel is that even if you know or "solved" the mystery, the book still manages to keep your attention and make you want to see the conclusion unfold for yourself. I can't imagine re-reading most mystery novels I can think of, but I can't imagine not re-reading The Moonstone again in the future. It's simply too much fun.
________________________________
*A small, religious pamphlet.
March 25, 2017
诏匕卮鬲賴 丕夭 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 噩匕丕亘 賵 倬乇讴卮卮貙 鬲乇噩賲丞 亘丿蹖毓蹖 賴賲 丿乇 丨丿 卮丕賴讴丕乇賴貙 亘禺氐賵氐 丿乇 亘禺卮賴丕蹖蹖 讴賴 丕夭 夭亘丕賳 禺丿賲鬲讴丕乇蹖 乇賵丕蹖鬲 賲蹖 卮賴 讴賴 爻毓蹖 賲蹖 讴賳賴 丕丿亘蹖 賵 賱賮馗 賯賱賲 丨乇賮 亘夭賳賴
May 10, 2019
亘賴 賳丕賲 丕賵
鈥�
" 賲丕賴 丕賱賲丕爻 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 賵 亘夭乇诏鬲乇蹖賳 乇賲丕賳賽 倬賱蹖爻蹖賽 丕賳诏賱蹖爻蹖 丕爻鬲."
丕蹖賳 噩賲賱賴 鬲蹖.丕爻.丕賱蹖賵鬲 卮丕毓乇 賵 賲賳鬲賯丿 賲毓乇賵賮賽 丕賳诏賱爻鬲丕賳蹖 丿乇 賲賵乇丿賽 卮丕賴讴丕乇賽 賵蹖賱讴蹖 讴丕賱蹖賳夭 丕亘丿丕賸 丕睾乇丕賯 賵 賲丿丕賴賳賴 賳蹖爻鬲.
賲丕賴 丕賱賲丕爻 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 亘賴鬲乇蹖賳 乇賲丕賳賴丕蹖 讴賱丕爻蹖讴蹖鈥屫池� 讴賴 鬲丕 亘賴 丨丕賱 禺賵丕賳丿賴鈥屫з�.
鬲賵噩賴 亘賮乇賲丕蹖蹖丿 噩賲賱賴 亘丕賱丕 乇丕 讴爻蹖 賲蹖鈥屭堐屫� 讴賴 賴賲賵丕乇賴 亘賴 丕丿亘蹖丕鬲 丕賳诏賱爻鬲丕賳 亘丕 丿蹖丿 鬲乇丿蹖丿 賳诏乇蹖爻鬲賴 丕爻鬲 (賴乇趩賳丿 亘丕 鬲丕爻賮 鬲賲丕賲 賴賳賵夭 丕孬乇蹖 丕夭 趩丕乇賱夭 丿蹖讴賳夭 賳禺賵丕賳丿賴 丕爻鬲) 賵 丿乇 亘蹖賳 乇賲丕賳賴丕蹖蹖 讴賴 丕夭 丕蹖賳 丕丿亘蹖丕鬲 禺賵丕賳丿賴 讴賲鬲乇 丕孬乇蹖 丕賵 乇丕 噩匕亘 禺賵丿 讴乇丿賴 丕爻鬲.
亘丕乇蹖 丨爻丕亘 賲丕賴 丕賱賲丕爻 噩丿丕爻鬲.
賴賲丕賳胤賵乇 讴賴 丿乇 噩賲賱賴 丕賱蹖賵鬲 丌賲丿賴 賲丕賴 丕賱賲丕爻 乇賲丕賳蹖 倬賱蹖爻蹖鈥屫池� 賵 丌賳 賴賲 丕賵賱蹖賳 乇賲丕賳 倬賱蹖爻蹖 丕丿亘蹖丕鬲 丕賳诏賱蹖爻蹖 夭亘丕賳
賵賱蹖 賵丕賯毓蹖鬲卮 乇丕 亘禺賵丕賴蹖丿 亘乇丕蹖 賲賳 亘丕賵乇讴乇丿賳蹖 賳蹖爻鬲 讴賴 賲丕賴 丕賱賲丕爻 丕賵賱蹖賳 亘丕卮丿 趩乇丕 讴賴 賳賵毓 乇賵丕蹖鬲 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賵 诏乇賴 丕賮讴賳蹖鈥屬囏й屫� 亘爻蹖丕乇 賯賵丕賲 蹖丕賮鬲賴鈥屫� 賵 倬蹖卮乇賮鬲賴鈥屫� 丕夭 丌賳 丕爻鬲 讴賴 丕賵賱蹖賳 亘丕卮丿. 丕蹖賳诏賵賳賴 亘賴 賳馗乇 賲蹖鈥屫必池� 讴賴 讴丕賱蹖賳夭 丕夭 趩賳丿蹖賳 賵 趩賳丿 鬲噩乇亘賴 噩賳丕蹖蹖鈥屬嗁堐屫驰� 亘丕蹖丿 亘賴乇賴 亘乇丿賴 亘丕卮丿 鬲丕 亘鬲賵丕賳丿 趩賳蹖賳 乇賲丕賳蹖 亘賳賵蹖爻丿. 蹖丕 讴丕乇诏丕賴 讴丕賮 乇丕 讴賴 丕賵賱蹖賳 讴丕乇丕诏丕賴 丌孬丕乇 丕丿亘蹖 賲蹖鈥屫з嗁嗀� 亘爻蹖丕乇 倬禺鬲賴鈥屫� 丕夭 賴乇 丕賵賱蹖賳蹖 乇賮鬲丕乇 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀�
讴鬲丕亘 丿乇 丨丿賵丿 鄱鄣郯 氐賮丨賴 丕爻鬲 賵 噩丕賱亘 丕蹖賳 丕爻鬲 讴賴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賱丨馗賴鈥屫й� 丕夭 乇蹖鬲賲 賳賲蹖鈥屫з佖� (丕賲乇蹖 讴賴 丿乇 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 倬賱蹖爻蹖 亘爻蹖丕乇 丨蹖丕鬲蹖鈥屫池�) 賵 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 亘乇丕蹖 賴乇 賯爻賲鬲 丕蹖丿賴 賲賳丨氐乇 亘賴 賮乇丿蹖 丿丕乇丿. 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 亘賴 卮蹖賵賴 倬賱蹖鈥屬佡堎嗃屭� 蹖丕 趩賳丿氐丿丕蹖蹖 乇賵丕蹖鬲 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 讴賴 丕蹖賳 賴賲 丿乇 賳賵毓 禺賵丿 亘丕 鬲賵噩賴 亘賴 爻丕賱 賳賵卮鬲賳 乇賲丕賳 (丕賵丕爻胤 賯乇賳 賳賵夭丿賴) 丕賲乇蹖 亘丿蹖毓 亘賵丿賴 丕爻鬲.
賳讴鬲賴 噩丕賱亘 丿蹖诏乇 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 亘賴 夭毓賲 賲賳 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬矩必ж槽� 乇賲丕賳 丕爻鬲. 賲丕賴 丕賱賲丕爻 亘丕 丕蹖賳讴賴 乇賲丕賳蹖 讴賱丕爻蹖讴 丕爻鬲 賵賱蹖 丿乇 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬矩必ж槽屬囏� 讴賲鬲乇 丿趩丕乇 乇禺賵鬲 賵 讴爻丕賱鬲蹖 讴賴 賲卮禺氐賴 睾丕賱亘 乇賲丕賳賴丕蹖 丌賳 夭賲丕賳 丕爻鬲 賲蹖鈥屫促堌�. 賵 卮禺氐蹖鬲賴丕 趩賳丕賳 倬蹖趩蹖丿賴 賴爻鬲賳丿 讴賴 禺賵丕賳賳丿賴 亘丕乇賴丕 丿乇 胤賵賱 禺賵丕賳丿賳 乇賲丕賳 賳爻亘鬲 亘賴 丌賳賴丕 丕丨爻丕爻丕鬲 賲禺鬲賱賮蹖 丕鬲禺丕匕 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀�. 禺賵丿 讴丕賱蹖賳夭 丿乇 噩丕蹖蹖 丕夭 乇賲丕賳 丕夭 夭亘丕賳 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 卮禺氐蹖鬲賴丕 丿乇 賲賵乇丿 乇賲丕賳賴丕蹖 讴賱丕爻蹖讴 賲蹖鈥屬嗁堐屫池�:
銆娰囐呝� 丕夭 噩賲賱賴 丌孬丕乇 讴賱丕爻蹖讴貨 賵 丕賱亘鬲賴 賴賲賴 亘蹖鈥屫з嗀ж操� 亘乇鬲乇 丕夭 趩蹖夭賴丕卅蹖 讴賴 亘毓丿賴丕 賲賳鬲卮乇 卮丿貨 賵 賴賲賴 (丕夭 賱丨丕馗 賲賳) 丕蹖賳 賲夭蹖鬲 亘夭乇诏 乇丕 丿丕乇賳丿 讴賴 丿賱 賴蹖趩鈥屭┴� 乇丕 賳賲蹖鈥屫必ㄘй屬嗀� 賵 賲睾夭 賴蹖趩鈥屭┴� 乇丕 丿丕睾 賳賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁嗀�.銆�
丌禺乇蹖賳 賳讴鬲賴 鬲乇噩賲賴 亘蹖鈥屬嗀港屫� 賲賳賵趩賴乇 亘丿蹖毓蹖 丕爻鬲 賳孬乇 亘丿蹖毓蹖 禺賵丿 蹖讴 丕孬乇 丕丿亘蹖 賲噩夭丕 丕爻鬲 倬乇 丕夭 馗乇丕賮鬲 賵 夭蹖亘丕蹖蹖. 亘丿蹖毓蹖 毓賱丕賵賴 亘乇 丌賳 讴賴 夭亘丕賳 賲亘丿丕 乇丕 亘賴 禺賵亘蹖 賲蹖卮賳丕爻丿 (亘丕賱丕禺乇賴 賲鬲乇噩賲 丕賵賱蹖爻 丕爻鬲). 賮丕乇爻蹖 乇丕 丿乇 賮氐丕丨鬲 賵 亘賱丕睾鬲蹖 乇卮讴 亘乇丕賳诏蹖夭 亘賴 讴丕乇 賲蹖鈥屫ㄘ必�. 丿乇 鬲乇噩賲賴 乇賲丕賳 亘丕乇賴丕 亘丕 丕乇噩丕毓鬲 賳丨賵蹖 賯乇丌賳蹖 蹖丕 鬲賱賲蹖丨鈥屬囏й屰� 亘賴 丕卮毓丕乇 爻毓丿蹖 丨丕賮馗 賵 賲賵賱賵蹖 乇賵亘乇賵 賴爻鬲蹖賲 讴賴 丕蹖賳 禺賵丿 亘乇 賲賱丕丨鬲 卮丕賴讴丕乇 讴丕賱蹖賳夭 丕賮夭賵丿賴 丕爻鬲貙 亘賴 噩賲賱丕鬲 夭蹖乇 鬲賵噩賴 亘賮乇賲丕蹖蹖丿:
銆娯促嗃屫団€屫й屬� 讴賴 丕夭 "丕亘賱蹖爻 丌丿賲鈥屫辟�" 爻禺賳 賲蹖鈥屭堐屬嗀� 賲賳 賲毓鬲賯丿賲 賲孬丕賱賽 "賮乇卮鬲賴鈥屫驰屫必з嗁� 丿蹖賵氐賵乇鬲" 亘賴 賲乇丕鬲亘 亘賴 丨賯蹖賯鬲 賳夭丿蹖讴鈥屫必ж池€�
鈥�
" 賲丕賴 丕賱賲丕爻 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 賵 亘夭乇诏鬲乇蹖賳 乇賲丕賳賽 倬賱蹖爻蹖賽 丕賳诏賱蹖爻蹖 丕爻鬲."
丕蹖賳 噩賲賱賴 鬲蹖.丕爻.丕賱蹖賵鬲 卮丕毓乇 賵 賲賳鬲賯丿 賲毓乇賵賮賽 丕賳诏賱爻鬲丕賳蹖 丿乇 賲賵乇丿賽 卮丕賴讴丕乇賽 賵蹖賱讴蹖 讴丕賱蹖賳夭 丕亘丿丕賸 丕睾乇丕賯 賵 賲丿丕賴賳賴 賳蹖爻鬲.
賲丕賴 丕賱賲丕爻 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 亘賴鬲乇蹖賳 乇賲丕賳賴丕蹖 讴賱丕爻蹖讴蹖鈥屫池� 讴賴 鬲丕 亘賴 丨丕賱 禺賵丕賳丿賴鈥屫з�.
鬲賵噩賴 亘賮乇賲丕蹖蹖丿 噩賲賱賴 亘丕賱丕 乇丕 讴爻蹖 賲蹖鈥屭堐屫� 讴賴 賴賲賵丕乇賴 亘賴 丕丿亘蹖丕鬲 丕賳诏賱爻鬲丕賳 亘丕 丿蹖丿 鬲乇丿蹖丿 賳诏乇蹖爻鬲賴 丕爻鬲 (賴乇趩賳丿 亘丕 鬲丕爻賮 鬲賲丕賲 賴賳賵夭 丕孬乇蹖 丕夭 趩丕乇賱夭 丿蹖讴賳夭 賳禺賵丕賳丿賴 丕爻鬲) 賵 丿乇 亘蹖賳 乇賲丕賳賴丕蹖蹖 讴賴 丕夭 丕蹖賳 丕丿亘蹖丕鬲 禺賵丕賳丿賴 讴賲鬲乇 丕孬乇蹖 丕賵 乇丕 噩匕亘 禺賵丿 讴乇丿賴 丕爻鬲.
亘丕乇蹖 丨爻丕亘 賲丕賴 丕賱賲丕爻 噩丿丕爻鬲.
賴賲丕賳胤賵乇 讴賴 丿乇 噩賲賱賴 丕賱蹖賵鬲 丌賲丿賴 賲丕賴 丕賱賲丕爻 乇賲丕賳蹖 倬賱蹖爻蹖鈥屫池� 賵 丌賳 賴賲 丕賵賱蹖賳 乇賲丕賳 倬賱蹖爻蹖 丕丿亘蹖丕鬲 丕賳诏賱蹖爻蹖 夭亘丕賳
賵賱蹖 賵丕賯毓蹖鬲卮 乇丕 亘禺賵丕賴蹖丿 亘乇丕蹖 賲賳 亘丕賵乇讴乇丿賳蹖 賳蹖爻鬲 讴賴 賲丕賴 丕賱賲丕爻 丕賵賱蹖賳 亘丕卮丿 趩乇丕 讴賴 賳賵毓 乇賵丕蹖鬲 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賵 诏乇賴 丕賮讴賳蹖鈥屬囏й屫� 亘爻蹖丕乇 賯賵丕賲 蹖丕賮鬲賴鈥屫� 賵 倬蹖卮乇賮鬲賴鈥屫� 丕夭 丌賳 丕爻鬲 讴賴 丕賵賱蹖賳 亘丕卮丿. 丕蹖賳诏賵賳賴 亘賴 賳馗乇 賲蹖鈥屫必池� 讴賴 讴丕賱蹖賳夭 丕夭 趩賳丿蹖賳 賵 趩賳丿 鬲噩乇亘賴 噩賳丕蹖蹖鈥屬嗁堐屫驰� 亘丕蹖丿 亘賴乇賴 亘乇丿賴 亘丕卮丿 鬲丕 亘鬲賵丕賳丿 趩賳蹖賳 乇賲丕賳蹖 亘賳賵蹖爻丿. 蹖丕 讴丕乇诏丕賴 讴丕賮 乇丕 讴賴 丕賵賱蹖賳 讴丕乇丕诏丕賴 丌孬丕乇 丕丿亘蹖 賲蹖鈥屫з嗁嗀� 亘爻蹖丕乇 倬禺鬲賴鈥屫� 丕夭 賴乇 丕賵賱蹖賳蹖 乇賮鬲丕乇 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀�
讴鬲丕亘 丿乇 丨丿賵丿 鄱鄣郯 氐賮丨賴 丕爻鬲 賵 噩丕賱亘 丕蹖賳 丕爻鬲 讴賴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賱丨馗賴鈥屫й� 丕夭 乇蹖鬲賲 賳賲蹖鈥屫з佖� (丕賲乇蹖 讴賴 丿乇 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 倬賱蹖爻蹖 亘爻蹖丕乇 丨蹖丕鬲蹖鈥屫池�) 賵 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 亘乇丕蹖 賴乇 賯爻賲鬲 丕蹖丿賴 賲賳丨氐乇 亘賴 賮乇丿蹖 丿丕乇丿. 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 亘賴 卮蹖賵賴 倬賱蹖鈥屬佡堎嗃屭� 蹖丕 趩賳丿氐丿丕蹖蹖 乇賵丕蹖鬲 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 讴賴 丕蹖賳 賴賲 丿乇 賳賵毓 禺賵丿 亘丕 鬲賵噩賴 亘賴 爻丕賱 賳賵卮鬲賳 乇賲丕賳 (丕賵丕爻胤 賯乇賳 賳賵夭丿賴) 丕賲乇蹖 亘丿蹖毓 亘賵丿賴 丕爻鬲.
賳讴鬲賴 噩丕賱亘 丿蹖诏乇 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 亘賴 夭毓賲 賲賳 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬矩必ж槽� 乇賲丕賳 丕爻鬲. 賲丕賴 丕賱賲丕爻 亘丕 丕蹖賳讴賴 乇賲丕賳蹖 讴賱丕爻蹖讴 丕爻鬲 賵賱蹖 丿乇 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬矩必ж槽屬囏� 讴賲鬲乇 丿趩丕乇 乇禺賵鬲 賵 讴爻丕賱鬲蹖 讴賴 賲卮禺氐賴 睾丕賱亘 乇賲丕賳賴丕蹖 丌賳 夭賲丕賳 丕爻鬲 賲蹖鈥屫促堌�. 賵 卮禺氐蹖鬲賴丕 趩賳丕賳 倬蹖趩蹖丿賴 賴爻鬲賳丿 讴賴 禺賵丕賳賳丿賴 亘丕乇賴丕 丿乇 胤賵賱 禺賵丕賳丿賳 乇賲丕賳 賳爻亘鬲 亘賴 丌賳賴丕 丕丨爻丕爻丕鬲 賲禺鬲賱賮蹖 丕鬲禺丕匕 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀�. 禺賵丿 讴丕賱蹖賳夭 丿乇 噩丕蹖蹖 丕夭 乇賲丕賳 丕夭 夭亘丕賳 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 卮禺氐蹖鬲賴丕 丿乇 賲賵乇丿 乇賲丕賳賴丕蹖 讴賱丕爻蹖讴 賲蹖鈥屬嗁堐屫池�:
銆娰囐呝� 丕夭 噩賲賱賴 丌孬丕乇 讴賱丕爻蹖讴貨 賵 丕賱亘鬲賴 賴賲賴 亘蹖鈥屫з嗀ж操� 亘乇鬲乇 丕夭 趩蹖夭賴丕卅蹖 讴賴 亘毓丿賴丕 賲賳鬲卮乇 卮丿貨 賵 賴賲賴 (丕夭 賱丨丕馗 賲賳) 丕蹖賳 賲夭蹖鬲 亘夭乇诏 乇丕 丿丕乇賳丿 讴賴 丿賱 賴蹖趩鈥屭┴� 乇丕 賳賲蹖鈥屫必ㄘй屬嗀� 賵 賲睾夭 賴蹖趩鈥屭┴� 乇丕 丿丕睾 賳賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁嗀�.銆�
丌禺乇蹖賳 賳讴鬲賴 鬲乇噩賲賴 亘蹖鈥屬嗀港屫� 賲賳賵趩賴乇 亘丿蹖毓蹖 丕爻鬲 賳孬乇 亘丿蹖毓蹖 禺賵丿 蹖讴 丕孬乇 丕丿亘蹖 賲噩夭丕 丕爻鬲 倬乇 丕夭 馗乇丕賮鬲 賵 夭蹖亘丕蹖蹖. 亘丿蹖毓蹖 毓賱丕賵賴 亘乇 丌賳 讴賴 夭亘丕賳 賲亘丿丕 乇丕 亘賴 禺賵亘蹖 賲蹖卮賳丕爻丿 (亘丕賱丕禺乇賴 賲鬲乇噩賲 丕賵賱蹖爻 丕爻鬲). 賮丕乇爻蹖 乇丕 丿乇 賮氐丕丨鬲 賵 亘賱丕睾鬲蹖 乇卮讴 亘乇丕賳诏蹖夭 亘賴 讴丕乇 賲蹖鈥屫ㄘ必�. 丿乇 鬲乇噩賲賴 乇賲丕賳 亘丕乇賴丕 亘丕 丕乇噩丕毓鬲 賳丨賵蹖 賯乇丌賳蹖 蹖丕 鬲賱賲蹖丨鈥屬囏й屰� 亘賴 丕卮毓丕乇 爻毓丿蹖 丨丕賮馗 賵 賲賵賱賵蹖 乇賵亘乇賵 賴爻鬲蹖賲 讴賴 丕蹖賳 禺賵丿 亘乇 賲賱丕丨鬲 卮丕賴讴丕乇 讴丕賱蹖賳夭 丕賮夭賵丿賴 丕爻鬲貙 亘賴 噩賲賱丕鬲 夭蹖乇 鬲賵噩賴 亘賮乇賲丕蹖蹖丿:
銆娯促嗃屫団€屫й屬� 讴賴 丕夭 "丕亘賱蹖爻 丌丿賲鈥屫辟�" 爻禺賳 賲蹖鈥屭堐屬嗀� 賲賳 賲毓鬲賯丿賲 賲孬丕賱賽 "賮乇卮鬲賴鈥屫驰屫必з嗁� 丿蹖賵氐賵乇鬲" 亘賴 賲乇丕鬲亘 亘賴 丨賯蹖賯鬲 賳夭丿蹖讴鈥屫必ж池€�
October 9, 2022
I loved the reading experience on this reread - a really intriguing novel, with some fantastic characters and twists and turns. I'm still deciding how I feel about Wilkie Collins but I do love his writing an awful lot.
February 12, 2018
862. The Moonstone, Wilkie Collins
The Moonstone (1868) by Wilkie Collins is a 19th-century British epistolary novel, generally considered the first full length detective novel in the English language.
The Moonstone tells of the events surrounding the disappearance of a mysterious (and cursed) yellow diamond. T. S. Eliot called it 'the first, the longest, and the best of modern English detective novels'. It contains a number of ideas which became common tropes of the genre, including a crime being investigated by talented amateurs who happen to be present when it is committed, and two police officers who exemplify respectively the 'Scotland Yard bungler' and the skilled, professional detective.
Characters: Franklin Blake, Rachel Verinder, Godfrey Ablewhite, Gabriel Betteredge, Rosanna Spearman, Drusilla Clack, Mathew Bruff, Lady Verinder, Sergeant Cuff, Dr. Candy, Ezra Jennings, Octavius Guy, Penelope Betteredge.
毓賳賵丕賳颅賴丕: 爻鈥嵸嗏€嵹€� 賲鈥嵷з囏� 丕賱賲丕爻 卮賵賲貨 賲丕賴颅爻賳诏貨 賲丕賴 丕賱賲丕爻貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 賵蹖賱讴蹖 讴丕賱蹖賳夭貨 丕賳鬲卮丕乇丕鬲蹖賴丕: (爻賳亘賱賴貙 賲噩乇丿貙 毓胤丕蹖蹖貙 賳卮乇 賲乇讴夭)貨 丕丿亘蹖丕鬲 賯乇賳 賳賵夭丿賴賲貨 鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮: 丿賵賲 賲丕賴 丿爻丕賲亘乇 爻丕賱 2006 賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
毓賳賵丕賳 蹖讴: 丕賱賲丕爻鈥� 卮賵賲 (爻賳诏 賲丕賴)貙 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 賵蹖賱讴蹖 讴丕賱蹖賳夭貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 賲賴蹖賳 賯賴乇賲丕賳貙 賳卮乇: 鬲鈥嵸団€嵷必з嗀� 毓胤丕卅蹖貙 1384貙 丿乇 364 氐.貙 鈥徺佖辟堌池�: 賲賵爻爻賴 丕賳鬲卮丕乇丕鬲 毓胤丕卅蹖貙 649貙 乇賲鈥嵷з嗀� 48貙 卮丕亘讴: 9789643136482
毓賳賵丕賳 丿賵: 賲丕賴爻賳诏貙 賲鬲乇噩賲: 丨賲蹖丿乇囟丕 囟乇丕亘蹖貙 賳卮乇: 賲卮賴丿貙 爻賳亘賱賴貙 1383貙 丿乇 107 氐貙貨
毓賳賵丕賳 爻賴: 爻賳诏 賲丕賴 (賲鬲賳 讴賵鬲丕賴 卮丿賴)貙 賲鬲乇噩賲: 賲賴蹖賳 丿丕賳卮賵乇貙 乇賲丕賳 倬賱蹖爻蹖: 丕丿亘蹖丕鬲 噩賴丕賳 亘乇丕蹖 噩賵丕賳丕賳貙 賳卮乇: 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 賳卮乇 賲乇讴夭貙 讴鬲丕亘 賲乇蹖賲鈥徹� 1376貙 丿乇 208 氐貙 賲氐賵乇. 賷丕丿丿丕卮鬲: 趩丕倬 賯亘賱蹖: 賲噩乇丿貙 1363貨
丕蹖賳 乇賲丕賳 亘賴 氐賵乇鬲 倬蹖賵爻鬲賴 丿乇 賲噩賱賴鈥� 丕蹖 亘賴 爻乇倬乇爻鬲蹖 趩丕乇賱夭 丿蹖讴賳夭 賲賳鬲卮乇 賲蹖鈥屫簇� 賵 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 亘丕乇 丿乇 爻丕賱 1868 賲蹖賱丕丿蹖 亘賴 氐賵乇鬲 讴鬲丕亘 丿乇 丕賳诏賱爻鬲丕賳 亘賴 趩丕倬 乇爻蹖丿. 乇賲丕賳 賲丕賴鈥� 丕賱賲丕爻 丿乇 讴賳丕乇 乇賲丕賳 夭賳 爻賮蹖丿倬賵卮 丕夭 亘賴鬲乇蹖賳 乇賲丕賳鈥屬囏й� 賵蹖賱讴蹖 讴丕賱蹖賳夭 亘賴 丨爻丕亘 賲蹖鈥屫③屬嗀�. 鬲蹖. 丕爻. 丕賱蹖賵鬲 卮丕毓乇 賵 賳賲丕蹖卮賳丕賲賴鈥� 賳賵蹖爻 丌賲乇蹖讴丕蹖蹖貙 丿乇 賲賯丿賲賴鈥� 丕蹖 亘乇 乇賲丕賳 賲丕賴鈥� 丕賱賲丕爻貙 丌賳乇丕 芦賳禺爻鬲蹖賳貙 亘賱賳丿鬲乇蹖賳 賵 亘賴鬲乇蹖賳 乇賲丕賳 倬賱蹖爻蹖 賲丿乇賳 丕賳诏賱蹖爻蹖禄 禺賵丕賳丿賴 丕爻鬲. 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 丿乇 丕蹖乇丕賳 丿乇 爻丕賱賴丕蹖 賲禺鬲賱賮 鬲賵爻胤 賳丕卮乇蹖賳鈥� 賲鬲賮丕賵鬲貙 鬲丨鬲 毓賳賵丕賳颅賴丕蹖: 芦爻鈥嵸嗏€嵹€� 賲鈥嵷з嚶� 賵 芦丕賱賲丕爻 卮賵賲禄 賵 芦賲丕賴颅爻賳诏禄 賵 芦賲丕賴 丕賱賲丕爻禄 賲賳鬲卮乇 卮丿賴 丕爻鬲. 乇賲丕賳 賲丕賴鈥� 丕賱賲丕爻 乇丕 丕賳鬲卮丕乇丕鬲 賳蹖賱賵賮乇 丿乇 爻丕賱 1394 賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖 亘丕 鬲乇噩賲賴 賲賳賵趩賴乇 亘丿蹖毓蹖 亘賴 賮丕乇爻蹖 賲賳鬲卮乇 讴乇丿賴 丕爻鬲. 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
The Moonstone (1868) by Wilkie Collins is a 19th-century British epistolary novel, generally considered the first full length detective novel in the English language.
The Moonstone tells of the events surrounding the disappearance of a mysterious (and cursed) yellow diamond. T. S. Eliot called it 'the first, the longest, and the best of modern English detective novels'. It contains a number of ideas which became common tropes of the genre, including a crime being investigated by talented amateurs who happen to be present when it is committed, and two police officers who exemplify respectively the 'Scotland Yard bungler' and the skilled, professional detective.
Characters: Franklin Blake, Rachel Verinder, Godfrey Ablewhite, Gabriel Betteredge, Rosanna Spearman, Drusilla Clack, Mathew Bruff, Lady Verinder, Sergeant Cuff, Dr. Candy, Ezra Jennings, Octavius Guy, Penelope Betteredge.
毓賳賵丕賳颅賴丕: 爻鈥嵸嗏€嵹€� 賲鈥嵷з囏� 丕賱賲丕爻 卮賵賲貨 賲丕賴颅爻賳诏貨 賲丕賴 丕賱賲丕爻貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 賵蹖賱讴蹖 讴丕賱蹖賳夭貨 丕賳鬲卮丕乇丕鬲蹖賴丕: (爻賳亘賱賴貙 賲噩乇丿貙 毓胤丕蹖蹖貙 賳卮乇 賲乇讴夭)貨 丕丿亘蹖丕鬲 賯乇賳 賳賵夭丿賴賲貨 鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮: 丿賵賲 賲丕賴 丿爻丕賲亘乇 爻丕賱 2006 賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
毓賳賵丕賳 蹖讴: 丕賱賲丕爻鈥� 卮賵賲 (爻賳诏 賲丕賴)貙 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 賵蹖賱讴蹖 讴丕賱蹖賳夭貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 賲賴蹖賳 賯賴乇賲丕賳貙 賳卮乇: 鬲鈥嵸団€嵷必з嗀� 毓胤丕卅蹖貙 1384貙 丿乇 364 氐.貙 鈥徺佖辟堌池�: 賲賵爻爻賴 丕賳鬲卮丕乇丕鬲 毓胤丕卅蹖貙 649貙 乇賲鈥嵷з嗀� 48貙 卮丕亘讴: 9789643136482
毓賳賵丕賳 丿賵: 賲丕賴爻賳诏貙 賲鬲乇噩賲: 丨賲蹖丿乇囟丕 囟乇丕亘蹖貙 賳卮乇: 賲卮賴丿貙 爻賳亘賱賴貙 1383貙 丿乇 107 氐貙貨
毓賳賵丕賳 爻賴: 爻賳诏 賲丕賴 (賲鬲賳 讴賵鬲丕賴 卮丿賴)貙 賲鬲乇噩賲: 賲賴蹖賳 丿丕賳卮賵乇貙 乇賲丕賳 倬賱蹖爻蹖: 丕丿亘蹖丕鬲 噩賴丕賳 亘乇丕蹖 噩賵丕賳丕賳貙 賳卮乇: 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 賳卮乇 賲乇讴夭貙 讴鬲丕亘 賲乇蹖賲鈥徹� 1376貙 丿乇 208 氐貙 賲氐賵乇. 賷丕丿丿丕卮鬲: 趩丕倬 賯亘賱蹖: 賲噩乇丿貙 1363貨
丕蹖賳 乇賲丕賳 亘賴 氐賵乇鬲 倬蹖賵爻鬲賴 丿乇 賲噩賱賴鈥� 丕蹖 亘賴 爻乇倬乇爻鬲蹖 趩丕乇賱夭 丿蹖讴賳夭 賲賳鬲卮乇 賲蹖鈥屫簇� 賵 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 亘丕乇 丿乇 爻丕賱 1868 賲蹖賱丕丿蹖 亘賴 氐賵乇鬲 讴鬲丕亘 丿乇 丕賳诏賱爻鬲丕賳 亘賴 趩丕倬 乇爻蹖丿. 乇賲丕賳 賲丕賴鈥� 丕賱賲丕爻 丿乇 讴賳丕乇 乇賲丕賳 夭賳 爻賮蹖丿倬賵卮 丕夭 亘賴鬲乇蹖賳 乇賲丕賳鈥屬囏й� 賵蹖賱讴蹖 讴丕賱蹖賳夭 亘賴 丨爻丕亘 賲蹖鈥屫③屬嗀�. 鬲蹖. 丕爻. 丕賱蹖賵鬲 卮丕毓乇 賵 賳賲丕蹖卮賳丕賲賴鈥� 賳賵蹖爻 丌賲乇蹖讴丕蹖蹖貙 丿乇 賲賯丿賲賴鈥� 丕蹖 亘乇 乇賲丕賳 賲丕賴鈥� 丕賱賲丕爻貙 丌賳乇丕 芦賳禺爻鬲蹖賳貙 亘賱賳丿鬲乇蹖賳 賵 亘賴鬲乇蹖賳 乇賲丕賳 倬賱蹖爻蹖 賲丿乇賳 丕賳诏賱蹖爻蹖禄 禺賵丕賳丿賴 丕爻鬲. 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 丿乇 丕蹖乇丕賳 丿乇 爻丕賱賴丕蹖 賲禺鬲賱賮 鬲賵爻胤 賳丕卮乇蹖賳鈥� 賲鬲賮丕賵鬲貙 鬲丨鬲 毓賳賵丕賳颅賴丕蹖: 芦爻鈥嵸嗏€嵹€� 賲鈥嵷з嚶� 賵 芦丕賱賲丕爻 卮賵賲禄 賵 芦賲丕賴颅爻賳诏禄 賵 芦賲丕賴 丕賱賲丕爻禄 賲賳鬲卮乇 卮丿賴 丕爻鬲. 乇賲丕賳 賲丕賴鈥� 丕賱賲丕爻 乇丕 丕賳鬲卮丕乇丕鬲 賳蹖賱賵賮乇 丿乇 爻丕賱 1394 賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖 亘丕 鬲乇噩賲賴 賲賳賵趩賴乇 亘丿蹖毓蹖 亘賴 賮丕乇爻蹖 賲賳鬲卮乇 讴乇丿賴 丕爻鬲. 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
September 24, 2024
The Moonstone was serialized from January 4, 1868 to August 8, 1868 in both the American Harper鈥檚 Magazine and the British All the Year Round, a weekly magazine edited by Charles Dickens. The Moonstone is described by TS Eliot as 鈥渢he first, the longest, and the best of modern English detective novels,鈥� the epistolary narrative follows the disappearance and eventual recovery of a priceless stone given to Rachel Verinder on the evening of her eighteenth birthday. In addition to a detective story, there is the blend of drama throughout the tale that will hold one鈥檚 attention.
Rachel Verinder, a young Englishwoman, inherits a large Indian diamond on her eighteenth birthday as a legacy from her uncle, a corrupt British army officer who served in India. Colonel John Herncastle is a professional soldier and the brother of Lady Verinder, a wealthy widow and the mother of the fiery and independent daughter, Rachel. Colonel Herncastle is suspected of foul deeds during the Seige of Seringapatum in India where he gained the Moonstone by murder and theft. The story incorporates elements of the legendary origins of the Hope Diamond. Rachel wears the Moonstone to her birthday celebration where that night the diamond disappears. Despite the efforts of renowned Scotland Yard detective, Sergeant Cuff, the house party ends with the mystery unsolved. Franklin Blake, Rachel鈥檚 cousin and suitor is chagrined to learn that she suspects him of the theft. Gabriel Betteredge is a venerable man and the Verinders鈥� head servant as well as his daughter Penelope, a servant in the household.
While The Moonstone remains one of Wilkie Collins most acclaimed works, my heart is still with The Woman in White.
鈥漈he adventures of the Yellow Diamond begin with the eleventh century of the Christian era.鈥�
鈥� 鈥淭he Moonstone will have its vengeance yet on you and yours!鈥� He spoke those words, and fell dead on the floor.
鈥淟ord bless us! It was a Diamond! As large, or nearly, as a plover鈥檚 egg! The light that streamed from it was like the light of the harvest moon. When you looked down into the stone, you looked into a yellow deep that drew your eyes into it so that they saw nothing else. It seemed unfathomable; this jewel, that you could hold between your finger and thumb, seemed unfathomable as the heavens themselves. We set it in the sun, and then shut the light out of the room, and it shown awfully out of the depths of its own brightness, with a moony gleam, in the dark.鈥�
Rachel Verinder, a young Englishwoman, inherits a large Indian diamond on her eighteenth birthday as a legacy from her uncle, a corrupt British army officer who served in India. Colonel John Herncastle is a professional soldier and the brother of Lady Verinder, a wealthy widow and the mother of the fiery and independent daughter, Rachel. Colonel Herncastle is suspected of foul deeds during the Seige of Seringapatum in India where he gained the Moonstone by murder and theft. The story incorporates elements of the legendary origins of the Hope Diamond. Rachel wears the Moonstone to her birthday celebration where that night the diamond disappears. Despite the efforts of renowned Scotland Yard detective, Sergeant Cuff, the house party ends with the mystery unsolved. Franklin Blake, Rachel鈥檚 cousin and suitor is chagrined to learn that she suspects him of the theft. Gabriel Betteredge is a venerable man and the Verinders鈥� head servant as well as his daughter Penelope, a servant in the household.
鈥淵ou are not to take it, if you please, as the saying of an ignorant man, when I express not opinion that such a book as Robinson Crusoe never was written, and never will be written again.I have tried that book for years鈥攇enerally in combination with a pipe of tobacco鈥攁nd I have found it my friend in need in all the necessities of this mortal life. When my spirits are bad鈥擱obinson Crusoe. When I want advice鈥擱obinson Crusoe. In past times, when I have had a drop too much鈥擱obinson Crusoe.鈥�
鈥淚 have worn out six stout Robinson Crusoe with hard work in my service. On my lady鈥檚 last birthday, she gave me a seventh. I took a drop too much on the strength of it; and Robinson Crusoe put me right again. Price four schillings and sixpence, bound in blue, with a picture into the bargain.鈥�
While The Moonstone remains one of Wilkie Collins most acclaimed works, my heart is still with The Woman in White.
September 9, 2017
Damn those heathen savages trying to get back their stolen sacred stone from them sahibs!
Mildly spoilerish
To my utmost disappointment The Butler, didn't do it :(
Considering that this book was written wayyy back in the 1840-1850s, one needs to ignore
a) the methods of solving a supposed crime and mystery behind certain unexplained events
b) the "oriental" tenor of describing certain ahem races/nationalities (using the term loosely here)
c) the obscure experiments providing confounding astounding and accurate results! (to solve the aforementioned, unexplained events)
d) the multiple POVs (half of which imho added nothing to the story, except for making almost 60% of the content of the book)
Continuing with d) I wish the author had not made this such a lengthy story. Had been it been just the first 15% and last quarter of the book, it would have been a fast paced thriller.
So weighing the likes/dislikes, frustrations and fun that I had while reading this book.
I'l rate it 2.25 stars
It was not TOO bad.
P.S. I was immensely pleased that the natives got their stolen stuff back ;)
Readers Bias! I have a right to it.
P.P.S: somewhere the book mentions the Indian god Moon with four arms riding an antelope.
My search on the world wide web lead me to this link;
Borrowing the images here
Top: The American serial's 4 January 1868 Headnote vignette showing the Brahmins and the idol of the Hindu Moon God. Centre: An expanded version of the same illustration, The Idol of the Moon God in the Peter Fenelon Collier edition (1900). Bottom: An expanded view of the original 1868 vignette, The Diamond and the Ganges (1874, second edition, Chapter 11, p. 90.)
***
I would love to get my hands on those illustrated versions!
Mildly spoilerish
To my utmost disappointment The Butler, didn't do it :(
Considering that this book was written wayyy back in the 1840-1850s, one needs to ignore
a) the methods of solving a supposed crime and mystery behind certain unexplained events
b) the "oriental" tenor of describing certain ahem races/nationalities (using the term loosely here)
c) the obscure experiments providing
d) the multiple POVs (half of which imho added nothing to the story, except for making almost 60% of the content of the book)
Continuing with d) I wish the author had not made this such a lengthy story. Had been it been just the first 15% and last quarter of the book, it would have been a fast paced thriller.
So weighing the likes/dislikes, frustrations and fun that I had while reading this book.
I'l rate it 2.25 stars
It was not TOO bad.
P.S. I was immensely pleased that the natives got their stolen stuff back ;)
Readers Bias! I have a right to it.
P.P.S: somewhere the book mentions the Indian god Moon with four arms riding an antelope.
My search on the world wide web lead me to this link;
Borrowing the images here
Top: The American serial's 4 January 1868 Headnote vignette showing the Brahmins and the idol of the Hindu Moon God. Centre: An expanded version of the same illustration, The Idol of the Moon God in the Peter Fenelon Collier edition (1900). Bottom: An expanded view of the original 1868 vignette, The Diamond and the Ganges (1874, second edition, Chapter 11, p. 90.)
***
I would love to get my hands on those illustrated versions!
March 10, 2023
The narrative structure is similar to that of The Woman in White with Mr Franklin Blake taking a role similar to that of Mr Walter Hartright, and collecting witness accounts from people concerned with the 鈥渟candal鈥�.
These witness accounts are from first person point of view and thoroughly interesting to read. I was ensnared by this mystery.
The eponymous diamond, the Moonstone was like a character in its own right. It had its hold on people.
A twist came in the second half of the novel which I was not expecting and was completely enthralled by it.
The characters were unique and colourful. Some of their characteristics and narratives were quite humorous. (I have a new found respect for Robinson Crusoe)
Reading this book was like putting together pieces of a puzzle and it resulted in a similar satisfaction in the end. There were no loose ends. Every action in this suspense was accounted for, and explained. And oh, such fun was the journey we took with these characters!
Strongly recommended!
These witness accounts are from first person point of view and thoroughly interesting to read. I was ensnared by this mystery.
The eponymous diamond, the Moonstone was like a character in its own right. It had its hold on people.
A twist came in the second half of the novel which I was not expecting and was completely enthralled by it.
The characters were unique and colourful. Some of their characteristics and narratives were quite humorous. (I have a new found respect for Robinson Crusoe)
Reading this book was like putting together pieces of a puzzle and it resulted in a similar satisfaction in the end. There were no loose ends. Every action in this suspense was accounted for, and explained. And oh, such fun was the journey we took with these characters!
Strongly recommended!
April 5, 2021
鈥淚 am (thank God!) constitutionally superior to reason. [...] Profit, good friends, I beseech you, by my example. It will save you from many troubles of the vexing sort. Cultivate a superiority to reason, and see how you pare the claws of all the sensible people when they try to scratch you for your own good!鈥�
I've wanted to read it since I read and . I've discovered a new favourite author. Right now, I am perfectly and delightfully happy. And the final essay by T. S. Eliot delighted my literature-student crave for a little literary history.
I've wanted to read it since I read and . I've discovered a new favourite author. Right now, I am perfectly and delightfully happy. And the final essay by T. S. Eliot delighted my literature-student crave for a little literary history.
April 12, 2023
This was a read that was quite unexpected. I am familiar with Wilkie Collins鈥� work and have enjoyed The Woman in White but I had no idea how much I was going to love The Moonstone!
Wilkie Collins was a law student before he became an author. His friendship with mentor Charles Dickens played an important part in his success having collaborated together on several plays and stories. Dickens published the novel in his magazine, All the Year Round in serial fashion. The Moonstone is often thought to be the first English detective novel introducing Detective Cuff to readers in 1868. Victorian readers would have been utterly captivated by the compelling plot and the intriguing case of the mystery surrounding the Moonstone.
The Moonstone will have its vengeance yet on you and yours!
The story is told by various characters through letters that they write. After the gem has been missing for 2 years, Franklin Blake has entrusted each individual to help in getting to the bottom of the mystery. Each narrative presents its writer as responsible for getting at the truth of the mystery via the epistolary style. The longest narrative is written by Gabriel Betteredge, the overseer of the Verinder house. He catches the 鈥渄etective fever鈥� brought on by our significant Detective Cuff. Betteredge also seeks out life鈥檚 guidance from his well-worn and loved copy of Defoe鈥檚 Robinson Crusoe. It鈥檚 as if he gains some type of spiritual direction from the passages he reads and interprets. And this added personality quirk is just a joy to take part in. Betteredge finds joy in his favorite reading material and it translates to readers in the same way. He has some rather archaic views on women but I didn鈥檛 find them derogatory (some might) but just a quirk of his personality.
We also get the perspective of Miss Drusilla Clack who is a self-righteous Christian lady who is a cousin to the Verinder鈥檚. Her eavesdropping tendencies and mission to save everyone from their sins with tracts that she disperses about the house for the purpose of edifying those who found and read them provide some humor. Her charity work for the Mother鈥檚-Small-Clothes-Conversion-Society puts a satirical spin on her character. I found her a pitiable character for the way she just doesn鈥檛 give up her personal mission of soul saving. I just thought she could have used a bit of grace in her delivery.
Miss Rachel Verinder is the benefactor of the moonstone and a very independent minded young woman. We get to know her character through the narration of the other characters quite well and question some of her behaviors; however, patience in getting to the end of the complex story and plot that Collins has created will shine light on her stubbornness eventually. We never view the story from her perspective though.
As the plot unfolds, readers will wonder whether the moonstone has cursed the Verinder family. But there is a lot going for this story. There is romance, innocent characters wrongfully suspected, sinister Hindoo men lurking about, an English manor house setting and one of the most intriguing characters, the doctor鈥檚 assistant, Ezra Jennings who brings an enigmatic atmosphere to the narrative. And finally, the fact that we get to meet the eccentric rose-loving Detective Cuff makes this a perfect reason to pick up this story. And if you think you are a regular armchair detective and will be able to figure this mystery out, beware, Collins鈥� outdoes himself with keeping readers guessing until the very end!
Wilkie Collins was a law student before he became an author. His friendship with mentor Charles Dickens played an important part in his success having collaborated together on several plays and stories. Dickens published the novel in his magazine, All the Year Round in serial fashion. The Moonstone is often thought to be the first English detective novel introducing Detective Cuff to readers in 1868. Victorian readers would have been utterly captivated by the compelling plot and the intriguing case of the mystery surrounding the Moonstone.
The Moonstone will have its vengeance yet on you and yours!
The story is told by various characters through letters that they write. After the gem has been missing for 2 years, Franklin Blake has entrusted each individual to help in getting to the bottom of the mystery. Each narrative presents its writer as responsible for getting at the truth of the mystery via the epistolary style. The longest narrative is written by Gabriel Betteredge, the overseer of the Verinder house. He catches the 鈥渄etective fever鈥� brought on by our significant Detective Cuff. Betteredge also seeks out life鈥檚 guidance from his well-worn and loved copy of Defoe鈥檚 Robinson Crusoe. It鈥檚 as if he gains some type of spiritual direction from the passages he reads and interprets. And this added personality quirk is just a joy to take part in. Betteredge finds joy in his favorite reading material and it translates to readers in the same way. He has some rather archaic views on women but I didn鈥檛 find them derogatory (some might) but just a quirk of his personality.
We also get the perspective of Miss Drusilla Clack who is a self-righteous Christian lady who is a cousin to the Verinder鈥檚. Her eavesdropping tendencies and mission to save everyone from their sins with tracts that she disperses about the house for the purpose of edifying those who found and read them provide some humor. Her charity work for the Mother鈥檚-Small-Clothes-Conversion-Society puts a satirical spin on her character. I found her a pitiable character for the way she just doesn鈥檛 give up her personal mission of soul saving. I just thought she could have used a bit of grace in her delivery.
Miss Rachel Verinder is the benefactor of the moonstone and a very independent minded young woman. We get to know her character through the narration of the other characters quite well and question some of her behaviors; however, patience in getting to the end of the complex story and plot that Collins has created will shine light on her stubbornness eventually. We never view the story from her perspective though.
As the plot unfolds, readers will wonder whether the moonstone has cursed the Verinder family. But there is a lot going for this story. There is romance, innocent characters wrongfully suspected, sinister Hindoo men lurking about, an English manor house setting and one of the most intriguing characters, the doctor鈥檚 assistant, Ezra Jennings who brings an enigmatic atmosphere to the narrative. And finally, the fact that we get to meet the eccentric rose-loving Detective Cuff makes this a perfect reason to pick up this story. And if you think you are a regular armchair detective and will be able to figure this mystery out, beware, Collins鈥� outdoes himself with keeping readers guessing until the very end!
March 19, 2023
Free for Audible-UK-Plus members. Do not miss this!
I am utterly amazed that I sat glued to this all the way through. Why? Because it is so very different from the books I usually enjoy. This is a fun and engaging mystery. It is said to be the first English detective novel! Usually, I am captivated by books more down to earth and realistic in style. That I enjoyed this so very much is what makes it amazing for me.
I want to explain the draw of this book.
A mystery is to be solved. Who has taken the 鈥渕oonstone鈥�, a diamond from India worth 拢20 000? Who did what and why is unraveled, as well as the specifics of how. Not once did I become confused. My lack of confusion is not typical of me. The explanation is twofold. Every detail and aspect of the story is meticulously and captivatingly laid out, in this, Wilkie Collins鈥� 1868 novel. You pay attention because the writing grabs you and holds you tight!
The story is told by those who witnessed it. Each of these narrators explain what he or she personally saw and experienced. These characters come alive. Each has a personality you are not soon to forget. Each lives and breathes. Each has a personality different from the others. None are duplicates. Some are amusing. Both Miss Druscilla Clack and the butler Gabriel Betteredge will leave you chuckling. No, they are not funny in the same way. This exemplifies the author鈥檚 marvelous ability to imagine, create and perfect unique characters. Miss Druscilla Clack is an ardent evangelist handing out 鈥渢racts of wisdom鈥� right and left. The butler鈥檚 bible is, on the other hand, Defoe鈥檚 Robinson and Crusoe. With every new calamity, he has an applicable quote. It is Collins鈥� words and his way of telling the story that make the tale special.
Widely varied characters and humorous lines are topped off with words of wisdom about, for example, national traits. The idiosyncrasies of the French, Germans, Italians and English are noted. Those who enjoy a minute of serious thought are thus satisfied too!
Figuring out exactly how all the different steps are tied together becomes and enjoyable lark, despite that all is pure fiction from start to finish. THIS is what I find utterly amazing!
To top this all off, the audiobook narration by Peter Jeffrey is excellent. His intonations enhance the characters鈥� respective personality traits. He does not overdramatize, but he has a particular voice for each one of the characters. You easily recognize who is speaking, without being told. Jeffrey鈥檚 rendition is topnotch. Five stars for the narration.
And this is all free if you are an Audible-UK-Plus member! Grab it. Don鈥檛 just grab it, listen to it soon!
*
* 3 stars
* 5 stars
* TBR
* TBR
* TBR
I appreciate suggestions guiding me to Collins' other topnotch choices.
I am utterly amazed that I sat glued to this all the way through. Why? Because it is so very different from the books I usually enjoy. This is a fun and engaging mystery. It is said to be the first English detective novel! Usually, I am captivated by books more down to earth and realistic in style. That I enjoyed this so very much is what makes it amazing for me.
I want to explain the draw of this book.
A mystery is to be solved. Who has taken the 鈥渕oonstone鈥�, a diamond from India worth 拢20 000? Who did what and why is unraveled, as well as the specifics of how. Not once did I become confused. My lack of confusion is not typical of me. The explanation is twofold. Every detail and aspect of the story is meticulously and captivatingly laid out, in this, Wilkie Collins鈥� 1868 novel. You pay attention because the writing grabs you and holds you tight!
The story is told by those who witnessed it. Each of these narrators explain what he or she personally saw and experienced. These characters come alive. Each has a personality you are not soon to forget. Each lives and breathes. Each has a personality different from the others. None are duplicates. Some are amusing. Both Miss Druscilla Clack and the butler Gabriel Betteredge will leave you chuckling. No, they are not funny in the same way. This exemplifies the author鈥檚 marvelous ability to imagine, create and perfect unique characters. Miss Druscilla Clack is an ardent evangelist handing out 鈥渢racts of wisdom鈥� right and left. The butler鈥檚 bible is, on the other hand, Defoe鈥檚 Robinson and Crusoe. With every new calamity, he has an applicable quote. It is Collins鈥� words and his way of telling the story that make the tale special.
Widely varied characters and humorous lines are topped off with words of wisdom about, for example, national traits. The idiosyncrasies of the French, Germans, Italians and English are noted. Those who enjoy a minute of serious thought are thus satisfied too!
Figuring out exactly how all the different steps are tied together becomes and enjoyable lark, despite that all is pure fiction from start to finish. THIS is what I find utterly amazing!
To top this all off, the audiobook narration by Peter Jeffrey is excellent. His intonations enhance the characters鈥� respective personality traits. He does not overdramatize, but he has a particular voice for each one of the characters. You easily recognize who is speaking, without being told. Jeffrey鈥檚 rendition is topnotch. Five stars for the narration.
And this is all free if you are an Audible-UK-Plus member! Grab it. Don鈥檛 just grab it, listen to it soon!
*
* 3 stars
* 5 stars
* TBR
* TBR
* TBR
I appreciate suggestions guiding me to Collins' other topnotch choices.
August 1, 2019
T.S. Eliot opinaba que La piedra lunar era 鈥渓a primera, la m谩s larga y la mejor de las novelas brit谩nicas contempor谩neas de detectives.鈥� No tengo los conocimientos suficientes para rebatirlo, pero la primera afirmaci贸n es un tema bastante discutido y en la actualidad la mayor铆a opina que 鈥渓a primera鈥� fue El misterio de Notting Hill, de Charles Warren Adams. Lo que s铆 es m谩s que probable es que esta de Collins sea la que tuvo una influencia decisiva en lo que vino despu茅s.
Con las 784 p谩ginas que tiene mi edici贸n, probablemente calificarla como 鈥渓a m谩s larga鈥� sea correcto, aunque esto poco tenga que ver con la calidad de la obra y s铆 con la manera en que fue escrita y publicada, por entregas en All the Year Round, el semanario de Charles Dickens.
Sobre si fue o no 鈥渓a mejor鈥� habr谩 millones de opiniones. Me atrever铆a a decir que en su momento s铆 lo fue. Lo de menos es la trama, la intriga por saber qui茅n rob贸 la joya no es lo que engancha, ni es nada extraordinaria para el lector, al menos para el actual. Los giros son los t铆picos, el misterio no deja de enredarse hasta llegar al desenlace, que no creo que sea tampoco demasiado sorprendente.
La principal virtud de la novela es su forma: ocho partes, cada una escrita por un personaje o testigo diferente: un miembro del servicio, Gabriel Betteredge, que tiene una fe ciega en que toda la verdad se encuentra en Robinson Crusoe; la beata e insufrible prima Clack; el sargento Cuff, aficionado al cultivo de rosas鈥� los distintos narradores se hacen referencias cruzadas, se dirigen al lector y buscan su complicidad en un relato que en este sentido resulta sorprendentemente moderno y bien llevado, d谩ndole a cada uno una voz propia e inconfundible, sus narracinoes son interesadas, subjetivas, y por lo tanto poco fiables. Collins dice en el pr贸logo que la presente historia trata de analizar la influencia que ejerce la personalidad sobre las circunstancias.
Los personajes (los secundarios, la pareja principal es tan sosa y plana que dir铆a que puede que su existencia sea puro sarcasmo) son interesantes, exc茅ntricos y atractivos, aunque me ha faltado aqu铆 un villano comparable al enorme, en todos los sentidos, conde Fosco de La dama de blanco.
Adem谩s, toda la novela rezuma iron铆a y refleja estupendamente la hipocres铆a de la sociedad victoriana.
Por tanto, las (escasas) tres estrellas se deben solo a mi gusto personal, la novela es entretenida, el misterio est谩 bien llevado, la narraci贸n es 谩gil y aguanta el ritmo razonablemente bien durante sus cientos de p谩ginas, pero en el fondo no deja de ser un follet铆n algo melodram谩tico, con todo lo malo (y bueno) que eso lleva consigo.
Con las 784 p谩ginas que tiene mi edici贸n, probablemente calificarla como 鈥渓a m谩s larga鈥� sea correcto, aunque esto poco tenga que ver con la calidad de la obra y s铆 con la manera en que fue escrita y publicada, por entregas en All the Year Round, el semanario de Charles Dickens.
Sobre si fue o no 鈥渓a mejor鈥� habr谩 millones de opiniones. Me atrever铆a a decir que en su momento s铆 lo fue. Lo de menos es la trama, la intriga por saber qui茅n rob贸 la joya no es lo que engancha, ni es nada extraordinaria para el lector, al menos para el actual. Los giros son los t铆picos, el misterio no deja de enredarse hasta llegar al desenlace, que no creo que sea tampoco demasiado sorprendente.
La principal virtud de la novela es su forma: ocho partes, cada una escrita por un personaje o testigo diferente: un miembro del servicio, Gabriel Betteredge, que tiene una fe ciega en que toda la verdad se encuentra en Robinson Crusoe; la beata e insufrible prima Clack; el sargento Cuff, aficionado al cultivo de rosas鈥� los distintos narradores se hacen referencias cruzadas, se dirigen al lector y buscan su complicidad en un relato que en este sentido resulta sorprendentemente moderno y bien llevado, d谩ndole a cada uno una voz propia e inconfundible, sus narracinoes son interesadas, subjetivas, y por lo tanto poco fiables. Collins dice en el pr贸logo que la presente historia trata de analizar la influencia que ejerce la personalidad sobre las circunstancias.
Los personajes (los secundarios, la pareja principal es tan sosa y plana que dir铆a que puede que su existencia sea puro sarcasmo) son interesantes, exc茅ntricos y atractivos, aunque me ha faltado aqu铆 un villano comparable al enorme, en todos los sentidos, conde Fosco de La dama de blanco.
Adem谩s, toda la novela rezuma iron铆a y refleja estupendamente la hipocres铆a de la sociedad victoriana.
Por tanto, las (escasas) tres estrellas se deben solo a mi gusto personal, la novela es entretenida, el misterio est谩 bien llevado, la narraci贸n es 谩gil y aguanta el ritmo razonablemente bien durante sus cientos de p谩ginas, pero en el fondo no deja de ser un follet铆n algo melodram谩tico, con todo lo malo (y bueno) que eso lleva consigo.
January 9, 2018
螠蔚 蟿畏谓 苇谓伪蟻尉畏 蟿慰蠀 尾喂尾位委慰蠀, 蔚渭蔚委蟼 慰喂 伪谓伪纬谓蠋蟽蟿蔚蟼 纬喂谓蠈渭伪蟽蟿蔚 纬谓蠋蟽蟿蔚蟼 蟿慰蠀 蠈蟿喂 蟽蟿慰 蟽蠀纬魏蔚魏蟻喂渭苇谓慰 蠂蟻慰谓喂魏蠈 蟽畏渭蔚委慰, 蟿慰 苇纬魏位畏渭伪 苇蠂蔚喂 纬委谓蔚喂 魏伪喂 萎未畏 苇蠂蔚喂 蔚尉喂蠂谓喂伪蟽蟿蔚委. 螚 伪谓维纬谓蠅蟽畏 蟺慰蠀 胃伪 伪魏慰位慰蠀胃萎蟽蔚喂 蔚委谓伪喂 慰喂 未喂畏纬萎蟽蔚喂蟼 蟿蠅谓 蟺蟻慰蟽蠋蟺蠅谓 蟺慰蠀 苇纬喂谓伪谓 渭维蟻蟿蠀蟻蔚蟼 蟿畏蟼 蟺慰位蠉蟺位慰魏畏蟼 伪蠀蟿萎蟼 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪蟼, 蟿喂蟼 慰蟺慰委蔚蟼 苇纬蟻伪蠄伪谓 苇蟺蔚喂蟿伪 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 未喂伪位蔚蠉魏伪谓蟽畏 蟿慰蠀 渭蠀蟽蟿畏蟻委慰蠀 蟿畏谓 慰蟺慰委伪 伪魏慰位慰蠀胃慰蠉渭蔚 尾萎渭伪 尾萎渭伪 渭苇蟽伪 伪蟺慰 蟿喂蟼 未喂畏纬萎蟽蔚喂蟼 蟿慰蠀蟼.
螆谓伪 苇蠂蠅 谓伪 蟺蠅, 伪蟺慰位伪蠀蟽蟿喂魏萎 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪, 伪蟺蠈 伪蟺慰位伪蠀蟽蟿喂魏慰蠉蟼 蠂伪蟻伪魏蟿萎蟻蔚蟼. 韦慰 蟺伪喂蠂谓委未喂 伪谓维渭蔚蟽伪 蟽蟿慰谓 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪 魏伪喂 蟿慰谓 伪谓伪纬谓蠋蟽蟿畏, 蔚委蠂蔚 魏蔚蟻未畏胃蔚委 萎未畏 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 蟺蟻蠋蟿畏 未喂萎纬畏蟽畏, 伪蠀蟿萎 蟿慰蠀 魏伪渭伪蟻喂苇蟻畏 螠蟺苇蟿蔚蟻蔚味, 伪蠀蟿慰蠉 蟿慰蠀 蠀蟺苇蟻慰蠂慰蠀 蟺伪蟺蟺慰蠉, 渭蔚 蟿畏谓 蔚渭渭慰谓萎 蟽蟿慰 渭蠀胃喂蟽蟿蠈蟻畏渭伪 芦巍慰尾喂谓蟽蠋谓伪蟼 螝蟻慰蠉蟽慰蟼禄. 螝伪喂 蟽蔚 伪蠀蟿萎, 魏伪喂 蟽蟿畏谓 蔚蟺蠈渭蔚谓畏 未喂萎纬畏蟽畏, 伪蠀蟿萎 蟿畏蟼 蔚尉伪未苇位蠁畏蟼 渭喂蟼 螝位伪魏 鈥撐何毕勎毕€位畏魏蟿喂魏萎 胃蟻畏蟽魏蠈位畏蟺蟿畏, 蔚渭渭慰谓喂魏萎 蠁喂纬慰蠉蟻伪 纬蔚蟻慰谓蟿慰魏蠈蟻畏蟼 蟿畏蟼 蔚蟺慰蠂萎蟼 蔚魏蔚委谓畏蟼- 慰 螝蠈位位喂谓蟼 未委谓蔚喂 蟻蔚蟽喂蟿维位 伪蠁畏纬畏渭伪蟿喂魏慰蠉 渭蟺蟻委慰蠀!
违蟺苇蟻慰蠂慰 尾喂尾位委慰!
螆谓伪 苇蠂蠅 谓伪 蟺蠅, 伪蟺慰位伪蠀蟽蟿喂魏萎 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪, 伪蟺蠈 伪蟺慰位伪蠀蟽蟿喂魏慰蠉蟼 蠂伪蟻伪魏蟿萎蟻蔚蟼. 韦慰 蟺伪喂蠂谓委未喂 伪谓维渭蔚蟽伪 蟽蟿慰谓 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪 魏伪喂 蟿慰谓 伪谓伪纬谓蠋蟽蟿畏, 蔚委蠂蔚 魏蔚蟻未畏胃蔚委 萎未畏 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 蟺蟻蠋蟿畏 未喂萎纬畏蟽畏, 伪蠀蟿萎 蟿慰蠀 魏伪渭伪蟻喂苇蟻畏 螠蟺苇蟿蔚蟻蔚味, 伪蠀蟿慰蠉 蟿慰蠀 蠀蟺苇蟻慰蠂慰蠀 蟺伪蟺蟺慰蠉, 渭蔚 蟿畏谓 蔚渭渭慰谓萎 蟽蟿慰 渭蠀胃喂蟽蟿蠈蟻畏渭伪 芦巍慰尾喂谓蟽蠋谓伪蟼 螝蟻慰蠉蟽慰蟼禄. 螝伪喂 蟽蔚 伪蠀蟿萎, 魏伪喂 蟽蟿畏谓 蔚蟺蠈渭蔚谓畏 未喂萎纬畏蟽畏, 伪蠀蟿萎 蟿畏蟼 蔚尉伪未苇位蠁畏蟼 渭喂蟼 螝位伪魏 鈥撐何毕勎毕€位畏魏蟿喂魏萎 胃蟻畏蟽魏蠈位畏蟺蟿畏, 蔚渭渭慰谓喂魏萎 蠁喂纬慰蠉蟻伪 纬蔚蟻慰谓蟿慰魏蠈蟻畏蟼 蟿畏蟼 蔚蟺慰蠂萎蟼 蔚魏蔚委谓畏蟼- 慰 螝蠈位位喂谓蟼 未委谓蔚喂 蟻蔚蟽喂蟿维位 伪蠁畏纬畏渭伪蟿喂魏慰蠉 渭蟺蟻委慰蠀!
违蟺苇蟻慰蠂慰 尾喂尾位委慰!
March 17, 2017
I guess a review of this requires me to say that Wilkie Collins' The Moonstone is one of the first mystery novels ever written. Now that I've got that out of the way, let's get on with the review.
This English drama/mystery started out great. It also started out much the same way many English drama/mysteries of the period would start out: in the manor house. It also used the popular-in-its-time epistolary form of storytelling, with about a half dozen characters taking up their pens to relate their portion of this story.
What is the story? Well, it starts off like an adventure with a mysterious diamond discovered in a faraway land. The diamond is passed down as inheritance and then it is stolen. Lovers are torn asunder and the mystery of the missing diamond must be solved if love is to prevail.
In fact, love plays a large roll in this, so large actually that I'm inclined to call it a romance as much as a mystery. If memory serves, it is even referred to as such as a subtitle, as in The Moonstone, a romance.
Regardless, if you've come solely for the mystery you'll be disappointed in much of this. As I say, it started out great. The first quarter or so of the story is related by the butler and much of his portion of the tale involves the facts of the case. He's also a colorful character, who it seems Collins enjoyed writing about. After him, we move on to less charming characters such a fanatic Christian, a lawyer, a physician, detective and one of the principle suspects involved in the disappearance of the diamond.
The faults, for me, in this novel are its overlong explanations, its unnecessary sidebar storylines, occasional repetition, and the time spent dwelling on the mundane. Many scenes could have been easily reduced, some could have been dispensed with all together, and the book would've been all the better for it. All in all, it's not horrible. I'd put it in league with Dickens' middling work. Not worth rushing forth to read, but I wouldn't dismiss it altogether.
This English drama/mystery started out great. It also started out much the same way many English drama/mysteries of the period would start out: in the manor house. It also used the popular-in-its-time epistolary form of storytelling, with about a half dozen characters taking up their pens to relate their portion of this story.
What is the story? Well, it starts off like an adventure with a mysterious diamond discovered in a faraway land. The diamond is passed down as inheritance and then it is stolen. Lovers are torn asunder and the mystery of the missing diamond must be solved if love is to prevail.
In fact, love plays a large roll in this, so large actually that I'm inclined to call it a romance as much as a mystery. If memory serves, it is even referred to as such as a subtitle, as in The Moonstone, a romance.
Regardless, if you've come solely for the mystery you'll be disappointed in much of this. As I say, it started out great. The first quarter or so of the story is related by the butler and much of his portion of the tale involves the facts of the case. He's also a colorful character, who it seems Collins enjoyed writing about. After him, we move on to less charming characters such a fanatic Christian, a lawyer, a physician, detective and one of the principle suspects involved in the disappearance of the diamond.
The faults, for me, in this novel are its overlong explanations, its unnecessary sidebar storylines, occasional repetition, and the time spent dwelling on the mundane. Many scenes could have been easily reduced, some could have been dispensed with all together, and the book would've been all the better for it. All in all, it's not horrible. I'd put it in league with Dickens' middling work. Not worth rushing forth to read, but I wouldn't dismiss it altogether.
April 16, 2023
Although I'd read a couple of Collins' short stories, prior to opening this classic novel (one of two the author is best known for) I'd never encountered any of his long fiction. But I'd long regarded this book as a must-read; so the occasion of a group read of it in one of my 欧宝娱乐 groups provided a welcome impetus to finally read it. It proved to be a thoroughly satisfying reading experience, and hopefully won't be my last from this author, since I have two more of his novels on my to-read shelf.
I've shelved this both as "general fiction" and as "mystery-crime fiction." In many respects, it's a typical Victorian classic novel of manners, with many stylistic characteristics in common with other 19th-century British authors, especially Dickens (who was a great friend of Collins). The study of human character and human relationships is similar in feel and quality to what the reader would find in other well-written novels of the day. But the central strand of the plot concerns an unusually large, yellow-tinted fictional diamond (the titular "Moonstone"), supposedly sacred to the Asian Indian moon god, and plundered from his temple by medieval Moslem conquerors. In the novel's Prologue, we learn how this jewel was supposedly stolen again, from the treasure vault of a Moslem sultan, by a shady British army officer at the real-life conquest of Seringapatam by the East India Company in 1799. Our main story takes place ca. 50 years later, in England in 1848-49; and we learn on the first page of that part that there the diamond disappeared yet again, under mysterious circumstances. How and why will be the central question of the book, making it, as one reviewer described it, a "proto-mystery," published before the mystery genre was a book-trade thing, but a recognizable influence on the genre novels and stories of the later 1800s and beyond.
Collins was definitely a writer of the Romantic school, like Dickens, and like such writers as Doyle, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, and Dostoevsky, all of whom he perhaps influenced. Exotic elements and frank appeals to an array of emotions abound here. But the novel also has a real vein of humor, sometimes satiric humor of the Juvenalian sort. It's written in the epistolary style --that is, as a succession of memoranda, journal entries, and letters written by various characters (the prologue is also a letter); the diction is convoluted, in Victorian and Romantic fashion, with no shortage of big words, and the speaking style of the characters in their dialogue tends to be formal, as it actually was in the upper and middle class speech of that day. Some modern readers find these features off-putting (though I'm not among those that do). But the characterizations (both of characters you like and those you detest!) are masterful and enormously lifelike, and the crafting of the plot is perfect (or, as Dorothy Sayers said of the novel as a whole, "...about as near perfection as anything of its kind can be"). The mystery is a genuine puzzler; I guessed part (but only part!) of the solution fairly early on, and other aspects of the problem eventually had me completely mystified. (And even at times questioning everything I had believed about it up to that point!)
It can fairly be said that this is not a deep novel of ideas, in terms of messaging and thought content. Some reviewers profess to discern an anti-imperialist or anti-colonialist message here. Personally, I don't. Collins certainly finds it morally objectionable, and even criminal, to murder Indian natives and steal their sacred objects; but all of the decent English characters here agree with him, even if they have no apparent problem with forcibly conquering and dominating the same natives' country. There are aspects of the tale that cast Victorian class snobbery in an ugly light; but I think this is a perception that modern readers bring to it, rather than one that Collins is trying to create. An important character, Miss Drusilla Clack, is a mercilessly depicted religious zealot who thinks that she and her own ultra-ascetic, censorious ilk are the only true Christians; but I don't think Collins agreed with her on that, and I honestly don't think he intended to use her to attack Christianity, or religion as such, but rather just to pillory distortions of Christian faith. I do think there is ultimately a positive racial message here; but it's relatively subtle. So this is perhaps not a Great Novel, in the sense that some classic novels with deep moral and spiritual content are. But it's certainly a very, very good one, that I'd recommend unhesitatingly to any readers who enjoy older fiction, or who would like to start exploring it.
Note: The Dodd Mead Great Illustrated Classics edition that I read is enhanced by several black-and-white plates that reproduce paintings or drawings of Collins at various stages of his life, or illustrating scenes from the novel, and also by a number of excellent black-and-white drawings of scenes in the tale done by William Sharp, and copyrighted in 1944 (apparently for an earlier printing by Doubleday). It has a short (a bit over four pages) Introduction by Basil Davenport that mostly just summarizes Collins' life and writing career; it touches on the features of the real-life Saville Kent case that suggest aspects of this novel, but doesn't really present spoilers as such. (Davenport makes one major blooper here, though, where he confuses a "bloodstained nightgown" with a paint-stained one!)
I've shelved this both as "general fiction" and as "mystery-crime fiction." In many respects, it's a typical Victorian classic novel of manners, with many stylistic characteristics in common with other 19th-century British authors, especially Dickens (who was a great friend of Collins). The study of human character and human relationships is similar in feel and quality to what the reader would find in other well-written novels of the day. But the central strand of the plot concerns an unusually large, yellow-tinted fictional diamond (the titular "Moonstone"), supposedly sacred to the Asian Indian moon god, and plundered from his temple by medieval Moslem conquerors. In the novel's Prologue, we learn how this jewel was supposedly stolen again, from the treasure vault of a Moslem sultan, by a shady British army officer at the real-life conquest of Seringapatam by the East India Company in 1799. Our main story takes place ca. 50 years later, in England in 1848-49; and we learn on the first page of that part that there the diamond disappeared yet again, under mysterious circumstances. How and why will be the central question of the book, making it, as one reviewer described it, a "proto-mystery," published before the mystery genre was a book-trade thing, but a recognizable influence on the genre novels and stories of the later 1800s and beyond.
Collins was definitely a writer of the Romantic school, like Dickens, and like such writers as Doyle, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, and Dostoevsky, all of whom he perhaps influenced. Exotic elements and frank appeals to an array of emotions abound here. But the novel also has a real vein of humor, sometimes satiric humor of the Juvenalian sort. It's written in the epistolary style --that is, as a succession of memoranda, journal entries, and letters written by various characters (the prologue is also a letter); the diction is convoluted, in Victorian and Romantic fashion, with no shortage of big words, and the speaking style of the characters in their dialogue tends to be formal, as it actually was in the upper and middle class speech of that day. Some modern readers find these features off-putting (though I'm not among those that do). But the characterizations (both of characters you like and those you detest!) are masterful and enormously lifelike, and the crafting of the plot is perfect (or, as Dorothy Sayers said of the novel as a whole, "...about as near perfection as anything of its kind can be"). The mystery is a genuine puzzler; I guessed part (but only part!) of the solution fairly early on, and other aspects of the problem eventually had me completely mystified. (And even at times questioning everything I had believed about it up to that point!)
It can fairly be said that this is not a deep novel of ideas, in terms of messaging and thought content. Some reviewers profess to discern an anti-imperialist or anti-colonialist message here. Personally, I don't. Collins certainly finds it morally objectionable, and even criminal, to murder Indian natives and steal their sacred objects; but all of the decent English characters here agree with him, even if they have no apparent problem with forcibly conquering and dominating the same natives' country. There are aspects of the tale that cast Victorian class snobbery in an ugly light; but I think this is a perception that modern readers bring to it, rather than one that Collins is trying to create. An important character, Miss Drusilla Clack, is a mercilessly depicted religious zealot who thinks that she and her own ultra-ascetic, censorious ilk are the only true Christians; but I don't think Collins agreed with her on that, and I honestly don't think he intended to use her to attack Christianity, or religion as such, but rather just to pillory distortions of Christian faith. I do think there is ultimately a positive racial message here; but it's relatively subtle. So this is perhaps not a Great Novel, in the sense that some classic novels with deep moral and spiritual content are. But it's certainly a very, very good one, that I'd recommend unhesitatingly to any readers who enjoy older fiction, or who would like to start exploring it.
Note: The Dodd Mead Great Illustrated Classics edition that I read is enhanced by several black-and-white plates that reproduce paintings or drawings of Collins at various stages of his life, or illustrating scenes from the novel, and also by a number of excellent black-and-white drawings of scenes in the tale done by William Sharp, and copyrighted in 1944 (apparently for an earlier printing by Doubleday). It has a short (a bit over four pages) Introduction by Basil Davenport that mostly just summarizes Collins' life and writing career; it touches on the features of the real-life Saville Kent case that suggest aspects of this novel, but doesn't really present spoilers as such. (Davenport makes one major blooper here, though, where he confuses a "bloodstained nightgown" with a paint-stained one!)
October 15, 2022
Victober (1)
Si tuviera que empezar a describir La piedra lunar, 驴c贸mo ser铆a? Posiblemente si mencionara que es una novela donde la trama nunca decae estar铆a mintiendo inmediatamente, porque tiene sus partes donde s铆 que quer铆a decir, 'ya para con esto, por favor'; si dijera que es la mejor novela de detectives que he le铆do tampoco ser铆a del todo sincero, no porque no haya sido excelente en t茅rminos de la resoluci贸n del caso 鈥攓ue lo es鈥� sino porque la novela es tan larga y tan compleja que no podr铆a definirla como una novela de detectives, as铆 sin m谩s. Decir que es mi Wilkie Collins favorito, ah铆 ir铆a otra mentira m谩s, ya que en mi opini贸n La mujer de blanco sigue manteni茅ndose en el primer puesto por toda la trama compleja que incluye muchos giros y por supuesto, porque tiene al conde Fosco, y 驴c贸mo se olvida a un villano como Fosco?, honestamente no tengo respuesta.
No, La piedra lunar la describir铆a como un rompecabezas, donde mientras m谩s lees, m谩s piezas vas encajando en su determinado lugar hasta que llegas al final del libro, ves el resultado, y 隆oh, sorpresa!, el resultado es simplemente impresionante.
Sin duda, Collins se ha convertido ya en uno de mis autores victorianos favoritos, y tras mi lectura de La piedra lunar 鈥攓ue fue adem谩s una lectura conjunta de poco m谩s de cuarenta d铆as con mi madre鈥�, no cabe la menor duda de que lo seguir茅 leyendo tanto como me sea posible, no s贸lo porque es un autor que lo que busca principalmente es entretener pero lo hace con una trama compleja y una prosa sencilla, sino tambi茅n porque la sociedad victoriana ha sido y ser谩 uno de mis t贸picos favoritos cuando se trata de leer 肠濒谩蝉颈肠辞蝉.
Como dije anteriormente, a modo de rompecabezas La piedra lunar se va integrando hasta formar una historia completa, y es que a lo largo de dos 茅pocas, y la segunda dividida en ocho narraciones distintas que corresponden a testimonios, cartas o diarios de varios personajes, la trama se va construyendo y desarrollando para conocer todo el misterio que se esconde detr谩s de la piedra lunar, robada en la noche del cumplea帽os de Rachel Verinder. Lo que hay que recordar aqu铆 es que La piedra lunar es considerada como una de las primeras novelas inglesas de detectives, y para ser tal el caso, el resultado ha sido m谩s que satisfactorio.
S铆 que he dicho que la trama tiene sus altibajos y hay momentos donde sent铆a que se estaba alargando de m谩s, no la trama en s铆, pero s铆 alg煤n episodio en espec铆fico, como si algunos narradores dieran detalles de m谩s a cosas que no nos interesan como lector, pero de nuevo, siento que eso no le quita lo positivo a la historia ni mucho menos la opaca. Tambi茅n mencion茅 que La mujer de blanco sigue siendo mi novela favorita del autor, pero considerando que las obras son totalmente distintas en t茅rminos de la historia al final todo es cuesti贸n de gustos, e incluso s茅 que La mujer de blanco es una novela sensacionalista, mientras que La piedra lunar no encaja dentro de ese g茅nero. Como novela de detectives de 茅poca, funciona y funciona muy bien, porque a diferencia de una obra polic铆aca convencional, donde el objetivo es descubrir al criminal, c贸mo lo hizo y por qu茅 lo hizo, y los personajes pasan a ser el medio para llegar a ese fin, en este caso la historia trata y desarrolla a sus personajes principales, terminamos conoci茅ndolos a profundidad y entendemos a煤n m谩s las motivaciones detr谩s del robo; en pocas palabras, los personajes tienen dimensiones, y he ah铆 el por qu茅 de m谩s de 700 p谩ginas de libro (al menos en esta edici贸n).
No hace falta que diga que recomiendo, no s贸lo leer a Wilkie Collins si nunca antes se le ha le铆do, sino tambi茅n darse una oportunidad con La piedra lunar, que sin duda no fallar谩 si lo suyo son las historias victorianas, historias de 茅poca en general, y donde el autor se toma su tiempo para desarrollar trama, personajes y ambientaci贸n.
Ojal谩 hallen en esta narraci贸n salida de mis manos lo que encontr贸 Robinson Crusoe durante su aventura en la isla desierta..., por encima de todo, 芦algo que los resarza de la misma y que puedan anotar en el haber del libro del Bien y del Mal禄.
Si tuviera que empezar a describir La piedra lunar, 驴c贸mo ser铆a? Posiblemente si mencionara que es una novela donde la trama nunca decae estar铆a mintiendo inmediatamente, porque tiene sus partes donde s铆 que quer铆a decir, 'ya para con esto, por favor'; si dijera que es la mejor novela de detectives que he le铆do tampoco ser铆a del todo sincero, no porque no haya sido excelente en t茅rminos de la resoluci贸n del caso 鈥攓ue lo es鈥� sino porque la novela es tan larga y tan compleja que no podr铆a definirla como una novela de detectives, as铆 sin m谩s. Decir que es mi Wilkie Collins favorito, ah铆 ir铆a otra mentira m谩s, ya que en mi opini贸n La mujer de blanco sigue manteni茅ndose en el primer puesto por toda la trama compleja que incluye muchos giros y por supuesto, porque tiene al conde Fosco, y 驴c贸mo se olvida a un villano como Fosco?, honestamente no tengo respuesta.
No, La piedra lunar la describir铆a como un rompecabezas, donde mientras m谩s lees, m谩s piezas vas encajando en su determinado lugar hasta que llegas al final del libro, ves el resultado, y 隆oh, sorpresa!, el resultado es simplemente impresionante.
Sin duda, Collins se ha convertido ya en uno de mis autores victorianos favoritos, y tras mi lectura de La piedra lunar 鈥攓ue fue adem谩s una lectura conjunta de poco m谩s de cuarenta d铆as con mi madre鈥�, no cabe la menor duda de que lo seguir茅 leyendo tanto como me sea posible, no s贸lo porque es un autor que lo que busca principalmente es entretener pero lo hace con una trama compleja y una prosa sencilla, sino tambi茅n porque la sociedad victoriana ha sido y ser谩 uno de mis t贸picos favoritos cuando se trata de leer 肠濒谩蝉颈肠辞蝉.
Como dije anteriormente, a modo de rompecabezas La piedra lunar se va integrando hasta formar una historia completa, y es que a lo largo de dos 茅pocas, y la segunda dividida en ocho narraciones distintas que corresponden a testimonios, cartas o diarios de varios personajes, la trama se va construyendo y desarrollando para conocer todo el misterio que se esconde detr谩s de la piedra lunar, robada en la noche del cumplea帽os de Rachel Verinder. Lo que hay que recordar aqu铆 es que La piedra lunar es considerada como una de las primeras novelas inglesas de detectives, y para ser tal el caso, el resultado ha sido m谩s que satisfactorio.
S铆 que he dicho que la trama tiene sus altibajos y hay momentos donde sent铆a que se estaba alargando de m谩s, no la trama en s铆, pero s铆 alg煤n episodio en espec铆fico, como si algunos narradores dieran detalles de m谩s a cosas que no nos interesan como lector, pero de nuevo, siento que eso no le quita lo positivo a la historia ni mucho menos la opaca. Tambi茅n mencion茅 que La mujer de blanco sigue siendo mi novela favorita del autor, pero considerando que las obras son totalmente distintas en t茅rminos de la historia al final todo es cuesti贸n de gustos, e incluso s茅 que La mujer de blanco es una novela sensacionalista, mientras que La piedra lunar no encaja dentro de ese g茅nero. Como novela de detectives de 茅poca, funciona y funciona muy bien, porque a diferencia de una obra polic铆aca convencional, donde el objetivo es descubrir al criminal, c贸mo lo hizo y por qu茅 lo hizo, y los personajes pasan a ser el medio para llegar a ese fin, en este caso la historia trata y desarrolla a sus personajes principales, terminamos conoci茅ndolos a profundidad y entendemos a煤n m谩s las motivaciones detr谩s del robo; en pocas palabras, los personajes tienen dimensiones, y he ah铆 el por qu茅 de m谩s de 700 p谩ginas de libro (al menos en esta edici贸n).
No hace falta que diga que recomiendo, no s贸lo leer a Wilkie Collins si nunca antes se le ha le铆do, sino tambi茅n darse una oportunidad con La piedra lunar, que sin duda no fallar谩 si lo suyo son las historias victorianas, historias de 茅poca en general, y donde el autor se toma su tiempo para desarrollar trama, personajes y ambientaci贸n.
Ojal谩 hallen en esta narraci贸n salida de mis manos lo que encontr贸 Robinson Crusoe durante su aventura en la isla desierta..., por encima de todo, 芦algo que los resarza de la misma y que puedan anotar en el haber del libro del Bien y del Mal禄.
March 4, 2021
I greatly enjoyed reading this story which was told through various characters and I liked them all with the exception of miss Clack since I found her character unsympathetic to say the least.
The narratives which I enjoyed most were Betteredge's, Mr. Bruff's and Fraklin Blake's.
The narrative given by Betteredge was the one which amused me at many points and I found his relationships with the family members, his daughter and his employees very endearing and I liked his personality!
The most intriguing narrative was for me the one from Franklin's point of view and he was the character I liked most!
In the story we encounter many different characters that provoke the reader's sentiments each for different reasons like Rosanna with her past and unrequited love or Rachel Verinder with her sacrifice to protect a person she cares about or Ezra Jennings that despite his misfortunes who remained a wonderful person!
The mystery is also very intriguing and the resolution in my opinion very clever.
All in all I really loved the story as a whole and can't wait to read another story written by Wilkie Collins!
The narratives which I enjoyed most were Betteredge's, Mr. Bruff's and Fraklin Blake's.
The narrative given by Betteredge was the one which amused me at many points and I found his relationships with the family members, his daughter and his employees very endearing and I liked his personality!
The most intriguing narrative was for me the one from Franklin's point of view and he was the character I liked most!
In the story we encounter many different characters that provoke the reader's sentiments each for different reasons like Rosanna with her past and unrequited love or Rachel Verinder with her sacrifice to protect a person she cares about or Ezra Jennings that despite his misfortunes who remained a wonderful person!
The mystery is also very intriguing and the resolution in my opinion very clever.
All in all I really loved the story as a whole and can't wait to read another story written by Wilkie Collins!
November 28, 2021
丕賵賱蹖賳貙 胤賵賱丕賳蹖 鬲乇蹖賳 賵 亘賴鬲乇蹖賳 丕孬乇 丿乇 賲蹖丕賳 乇賲丕賳 賴丕蹖 讴丕乇丌诏丕賴蹖 丕賳诏賱蹖爻蹖.听听
听 "T. S. Eliot"
亘賴 爻禺鬲蹖 亘丕賵乇賲 賲蹖鈥屫促� 讴賴 賯乇賳 賳賵夭丿賴賲 賳賵卮鬲賴 卮丿賴! 爻蹖乇 賲毓賲丕蹖蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 讴卮卮 賱丕夭賲 乇賵 丿丕卮鬲 賵 賵噩賵丿 乇丕賵蹖鈥屬囏й� 賲鬲賮丕賵鬲 亘丕毓孬 卮丿賳丿 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 亘乇丕賲 噩匕丕亘 亘丕卮賴
听 "T. S. Eliot"
亘賴 爻禺鬲蹖 亘丕賵乇賲 賲蹖鈥屫促� 讴賴 賯乇賳 賳賵夭丿賴賲 賳賵卮鬲賴 卮丿賴! 爻蹖乇 賲毓賲丕蹖蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 讴卮卮 賱丕夭賲 乇賵 丿丕卮鬲 賵 賵噩賵丿 乇丕賵蹖鈥屬囏й� 賲鬲賮丕賵鬲 亘丕毓孬 卮丿賳丿 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 亘乇丕賲 噩匕丕亘 亘丕卮賴
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