Woman in White Summary
In 1859 after starting as a serialized story appearing every week in a newspaper, Woman in White was published as a book. This is regarded as one of the most well known sensational novels ever published. The narrative is told through several perspectives that act like court documents or witness statements. Walter Hartright, a drawing teacher, begins the story recalling a strange encounter with a woman in white that appears to be running from somewhere. Later he receives a job to be the private drawing teacher to two wealthy young women, Marian Halcombe and Laura Fairlie. Walter falls in love with Laura only to have his hopes crushed as she is arranged to marry Sir Percival Glyde, a baronet. The woman in white, Anne Catherick, who looks a lot like Laura Fairlie-Glyde, shows up throughout the narrative to warn Laura and Marian of Sir Percival and his friend Count Fosco. Through many twists and turns, it is revealed that Sir Percival is not who he says he is and at one point was in a relationship with Anne before he locked her away in an asylum. In the end, Walter helps Laura break away from the marriage and resolves the legal issues surrounding it. Walter finally can marry Laura and Marian lives along side them.
Wilkie Collins was very popular for his sensation fiction. He had background in the legal field which aided in developing the plot and mystery behind Woman in White.In 1868, he published his other most popular work called The Moonstone which was also a mystery and sensationalist novel. Another notable aspect to Collins was his close friendship with another famous English author, Charles Dickens.