I have long been a huge fan of Charles Dickens and
felt it was about time I read one of the works by his longtime best friend,
Wilkie Collins. I am part way through Collins, The Women in White, his
fifth and reportedly his best novel.
So who was Wilkie Collins? The author who started
detective fiction, the ending cliffhanger and maybe modern day detective
mystery novels. Collins novel, The Women in White, I referenced above,
often pops up on lists of 100 greatest novels, and so far, half way through, I
have not been disappointed. Next time you find a good detective mystery or a
story with a super cliffhanger thank Wilkie.
Wilkie Collins died at 65 after years of battling gout
and drug problems related to pain meds he took for the gout. Wow, did that hit
home. I have been battling gout problems for years. Think I will read some more
of his stuff but will stay away from reading any more about his sufferings from
gout.
One last note, The Women in White, is a Kindle
free download.
2 comments:
I've ran across this book many times, but never have read it. I am wondering how he came to be named "Wilkie." I always think of Wendell Wilkie when I see his name.
As an old history teacher I thought about Wendell Wilkie myself. We might be the only ones who would make that connection.
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