Book Review: The Woman in White (1859) by Wilkie Collins

By Elizabeth Milo

I find it immensely satisfying to read a book that is on one of those “100 Books You Must Read at Some Point in Your Life” lists. If you come across one someday, scan the list for the title The Woman in White. Though it may not be the most recognizable title on the list, it is one you should certainly check off—it’s a classic that just hasn’t reached the same level of fame as its canonical cousins. Wilkie Collins was a master of character voice and plot, and his crowning achievement, The Woman in White, is a very entertaining read. It retains the Victorian charm of its time without sacrificing the modern elements which make it so accessible to a contemporary reader.

The Woman in White was first released in magazine installments, and was such a sensation amongst the public that it remained one of the most popular stories to circulate throughout the 1860s, and spawned all kinds of “Woman in White” paraphernalia. It is told through the letters, testimonials, and journal entries of various characters. Walter Hartright and Marian Halcombe— the lover and sister, respectively, of Laura Fairlie— struggle to protect her from her evil husband and his even more sinister friend. The plot, though somewhat prosaic now, is perfectly constructed to create the utmost possible suspense for the reader. Each incident builds upon the one before it, so that the entire novel is one delicate crescendo. Collins gives the reader enough information to let them feel clever, but not enough to ruin the surprise at the end.

The story is dominated by two of the most interesting characters to be written in Western literature: Marian Halcombe and Count Fosco. The tenacious, brilliant, and man-ish Marian is determined to save her sister Laura, who embodies every stereotype of a weak and beautiful woman that was ever invented by a man. Thankfully, the narrative stays mostly with Marian, whose insights and sleuth-work make her an engaging and admirable companion for the reader.

Count Fosco, the villain of the story, lurks in the background of other characters’ narratives, fooling the characters and the reader by keeping his master plan disguised. Fosco is constructed as the foil to Marian, but her masculine qualities and his feminine characteristics complicate that gender dichotomy. The interesting way that Collins plays with gender and character is fascinating, especially for a novel written in 1859.

For all of its literary and scholarly merits, The Woman in White is a genuinely enjoyable read. Though Moby Dick will always make the Top 10 of Books You Have to Read, its slow—even trudging pace—may not be everyone’s cup of tea. The Woman in White manages to be both a landmark book in the history of literature and an entertaining read for audiences from any decade. So rather than worry about crossing-off books from the lists that Time Magazine and The New York Times make for you, make your own list, and be sure to include The Woman in White on it.