Let's Talk About Wilkie Collins

[@ErinDarlyn]

“Most of the drama in this novel could be avoided by, like, one conversation.” - Exactly how I feel about most modern novels and all Hallmark movies. 😂

[@annable883]

Wilkie Collins is a genius - all his novels are superb. I have read 12 novels + all short stories & novellas. his Woman in White + No Name highlight the hypocrisy in Victorian times + the role of women in that time. He is one of my very favourite 19th century writers.

[@norfolkreads]

I've just read my first Wilkie Collins this Victober :) The Woman in White - absolutely loved it! Can't wait to read another

[@MothGirl007]

I just discovered him too and I can't wait to read all of his books!

[@zyssica]

Me too! Friend of mine introduced me to him and I was like, why haven’t people been talking about him all this time? 😂 You’ve probably already read since it’s been a year since this comment - but his best work is Moonstone!

[@MothGirl007]

I love that he and Charles Dickens were such close friends, and I found their relationship super endearing.

[@miriamelizabethreads]

I just finished Poor Miss Finch and adored it!! I've also read The Woman in White and love it too... So many more to read!

[@zero-wy6gs]

The Haunted Hotel is a good one as well

[@TooFondofBooksJH]

Wilkie Collins is my favourite Victorian author. I have read The Woman in White; The Moonstone; The Legacy of Cain; and The Dead Secret. I have also read a number of his short stories. I am currently halfway through Poor Miss Finch. I first read The Woman in White probably 20 years ago and I love it! I have re-read it (and the Moonstone) multiple times.

[@katiejlumsden]

Good to know - I'll bump The Legacy of Cain and The Dead Secret up my list :)

[@TooFondofBooksJH]

@@katiejlumsden The Dead Secret is good but not great. The Legacy of Cain addresses an interesting question. I liked it.

[@BookishTexan]

I am really enjoying _The Moonstone_ and look forward to reading more Collins in the future. This video will definitely come in handy for planning which of his novels to read next year.

[@theresas709]

Thanks, it helps me pick my next Collins. I have only read The Woman in White and it is hard to imagine he might have written one I like better.

[@poetryfromthepiddle6202]

Thank you for this. I have just given a talk on Wilkie Collins which should be on You Tube soon. I certainly agree with your placing of The Moonstone. I could have done with discovering this presentation before my talk but enjoyed it tremendously.

[@francescagu5152]

Thank you so much for your video Katie! I’ve read just a couple of novels by Collins so far but I’d like to read more and delve into his narrative. I found the characterisation of Dexter in The Law and the Lady very intriguing so I’ll follow your piece of advice and give a look at ‘Plotting Disability’. ☺️

[@linn1414]

I’m reading the moonstone now as my first Collins book. I’m about halfway and I really enjoy it. I loved Betteredge and his dynamic with Cuff, how he’s fiercely loyal to the family but ends up helping cuff and gets conflicted when suspicions turns ways he doesn’t like 😛 I’m now reading miss Clacks narrative and how she judges everyone except mr. Godfrey is so funny 😆

[@katiejlumsden]

I do love Betteredge so much! Glad you're enjoying it :)

[@jessicaferreiracoury]

Honestly I would put No Name above The Moonstone. It's just so so soooooo good. I think No Name is a masterpiece! Although I obviously really enjoyed The Moonstone, especially the creepy aspect of that crazy shivering sand, wow was THAT a trip, super creepy and I loved it. But I found the ending way too simplistic, I was kinda underwhelmed by the "solution" of the mystery

[@Dinadoesyoga]

I agree about No Name!

[@katiejlumsden]

Yeah I was thinking as I made this video that No Name is probably one to reread at some point. I wasn't really used to him yet when I read it, a few years ago. I might like it more another time.

[@jessicaferreiracoury]

@@Dinadoesyoga it's so good! And it has some funny bits too

[@terrysaunders2393]

I completely agree - it's got drama, peril, humour and a splendid heroine

[@kathleencraine7335]

Thanks for this, Katie. And for pointing out the conflicting signals about British Imperialism vs. racial profiling in the Moonstone. I have No Name, The Law and the Lady and Dead Secret on my TBR and will approach them with caution!

[@jessicaferreiracoury]

Midwinter is a character that moved me to tears in certain moments (Wilkie certainly can touch our heartstrings) because of his love and loyalty to Alan and his horrible past. I actually literally cried for him more than once. But man... could he be annoying sometimes too... I mean he threw a fit every other page it was tiiiiiriiiiinggggg lol my boy was too dramatic. He "started to his feet" 900 times per chapter 😂 Thats the beauty of Wilkie Collins, he makes characters that you sometimes love but sometimes hate lol

[@jeffaltier5582]

I'm an avid fan of Golden Age Mysteries, so reading the progenitors of the genre is a must. Woman In White and especially Moonstone are must reads for how a mystery could be expanded to novel form. It would have been interesting to see how Dickens would have influenced the genre if he had completed Edwin Drood. Prior to Collins we had writers like Poe who incorporated mystery into their short stories. AC Doyle took up the mantle from Collins and Poe with the Sherlock Holmes stories and off it went.

[@christopherhoward7740]

Thank you for posting this video. I have been watching your videos for a while now, and I always enjoy hearing your thoughts and opinions about literature. I am reading “The Woman in White” right now, which is my first Wilkie Collins novel. I am a little over halfway through and I am enjoying it very much. The mystery and suspense involving Anne Catherick is keeping me on edge! Collins’s writing is very approachable and less complicated than some other Victorian authors that I have read (e.g. Eliot). I look forward to reading “The Moonstone” and others. By the way, I also read “Far from the Madding Crowd” recently and I thoroughly enjoyed Hardy’s poetic like prose 😊. Keep up the great videos!

[@katiejlumsden]

Thanks very much! Glad you enjoyed Far from the Madding Crowd :)

[@anasky00]

Thank you for sharing this video, I've been looking forward to reading more Wilkie Collins, but since I loved the woman in white and didn´t care for the frozen dip, I didn´t know what to read next!

[@katiejlumsden]

The Frozen Deep is quite different. I'd recommend The Moonstone and Armadale!

[@anasky00]

@@katiejlumsden thank you!!

[@josmith5992]

Thanks for doing this Katie, I was just about to see if you had a Wilkie Collins recommendation video because so many people seem to be like you when they’ve read multiple Collins, love same, meh on others so I didn’t know where to go after loving The Woman in White and a The Moonstone. I shall be following your journey with his novels with great interest.

[@Dosser810]

Wilkie Collins is excellent! I read No Name and loved it! He is much overshadowed by Dickens, which I think is a shame.

[@GardenRailway]

Wilkie Collins is a favourite of mine, I'm all about the "main force"

[@MartinDSmith]

Thank you for this introduction!💝

[@tinaeden8317]

I enjoyed your video immensely! I am a huge Collins fan who is currently reading "Man and Wife." It was written in 1870, and it is both enjoyable and interesting to learn about the various laws that were in place in the UK at that time. I have Basil, which is next on my list to read -- hope I like it better than you did. Have you visited Collins' gravesite or any of his former residences (if any are still standing)? How I would love to visit them, but I live in the US. Thank you for your video!

[@katiejlumsden]

I must read Man and Wife some time! And no, I've never visited any Wilkie Collins sites or anything.

[@The_WriterVerse]

The Moonstone sounds like Doyle’s The Sign of Four. From the set up to the social commentary to the villains.

[@LizziebelleXOX]

The early bird catches the worm 😊

[@terrysaunders2393]

As a long-time member of the Wilkie Collins Society, I was very interested to hear your views on those of his novels you have read so far. I agree with many of your comments, but I do think you seriously undersold No Name, which has drama, peril, humour and some really strong characters - especially Magdalen, Captain Wragge and Mrs Lecount. I would encourage you to read Man and Wife next, which covers both unjust marriage laws and domestic violence, as well as including a hilarious scene at a Scottish inn!

[@katiejlumsden]

I do think that No Name might improve for me on a reread. Man and Wife is definitely on my list :)

[@jessicaferreiracoury]

Yay!!!! I've been waiting for this moment 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@nola3963]

His work isn’t accessible where I live. I only found the woman in white- which I love. I’d love to read more, but shipment is sooo expensive 🤕🔥. I enjoyed this video. I can’t wait to read more of his books 👍🏼❤️.

[@melissahouse1296]

Loved this Katie! your critique was actually quite funny 😆 Only read TWIW & completely agree on every point. Armadale next me thinks 🧐👍😊

[@Dinadoesyoga]

Well, you perfectly nailed the pros and cons of reading Wilkie Collins, lol. I probably will eventually read all of them just because, like you said, I just enjoy his writing. Armadale was incredible! Pettigrew's (I think that was his name) Postscript was so funny. He's incredible at creating these hilarious side characters. I would love to know your thoughts on Man and Wife. It's another conundrum with good points and then like...okay, really? Anyway, I will persevere with Collins!

[@katiejlumsden]

I do kind of want to read everything by him at one point, so I guess we'll see. I'm so torn on Wilkie Collins XD

[@jessicaferreiracoury]

About Armadale, if anyone has any knowledge of psychology, I would love to know if Lydia is considered a psychopath. I ask this because she's certainly deadly cold, ruthless and has no problem murdering to achieve her goals(which points to psychopathy) but in certain moments she writes in her journal that she feels regret and shame about what she's about to do. Which is not a trait of psychopaths. I know it's a weird question to ask but I got so curious about this character's mind and where else will I ask this lol

[@katiejlumsden]

That would be so interesting to know and to think about!

[@alisonbell3475]

Really fancy The Moonstone I think I read as a teenager but will choose it as a re read. 📖😊

[@novellenovels]

I love Wilkie Collins but for me my favourite is the woman in white.

[@Dinadoesyoga]

So I just finished The Two Destinies five minutes ago, and that ending was SO messed up! You were not joking. Seriously messed up.

[@katiejlumsden]

Right?! It was so wild and weird!

[@janetsmith8566]

This is so interesting. Because this is totally Anthony Trollope for me. I know you rank him as your second favourite author, but I just can’t. Yet I keep trying with him because in the same way as you I find so many good things in there. Many of your valid criticisms regarding Wilkie Collins I could say about actually many of the authors I’ve read from the era, though not the Brontës yet! I especially lept upon your comment about all sorts of drama going on but nothing actually happening! How many times have I thought something similar to myself as I’m reading or listening! Although with other authors. In fact I’ve made a personal determination that the Victorians simply liked to repeat themselves a great deal for some reason - maybe it was a dearth of editors LOL. I haven’t read much of Wilkie Collins yet so I’m sure I will likely agree with you on all points or most of them. I think this shows that we are just so much more forgiving towards some authors that we instinctively love than we are of others for some strange reason that is a mystery even to ourselves. As you pointed out. Thanks for a great video!

[@katiejlumsden]

I would say that Trollope is a fairly consistent author, so if you don't get on with him, you may just not get on with him! But yes, I think you're right - I feel like I'm less forgiving of Wilkie Collins and I'm not sure why!

[@janetsmith8566]

@@katiejlumsden I suspect it’s his preoccupation with state politics and church politics, which you said you enjoyed. Any you could recommend that touch more lightly on these themes?

[@cathrussell2426]

I've only read three Wilkie Collins books, The Woman in White, The Moonstone and The Dead Secret. The Moonstone is my favourite. The Dead Secret was very readable indeed and I love his writing. My only slight annoyance was that I got excited when I saw it was set in Cornwall because I am Cornish, but it didn't feel like Cornwall, I felt like it could've been anywhere. Pleased to report that I have three more Collins books, all ones you've mentioned as being good.

[@GenWivern2]

Yes, I think Collins' readability and lurid subject matter ensure him an enthusiastic audience, and a sniffy response from critics. Both have a point. Would recommend The Moonstone to anybody looking for a quality pageturner, though.

[@madebylora]

I’ve not read all the books on your list (I think I’ve read 4 and listened to one), but one that I enjoyed which isn’t on your list is the Dead Secret. It’s been a while since I read it, so I don’t remember much detail apart from the fact that I really enjoyed it! I know that’s not much of a recommendation but at least it is a spoiler free recommendation haha

[@katiejlumsden]

I definitely need to read The Dead Secret. I have also just read Man and Wife and really liked that one.

[@jenmiller9744]

In one of your recent videos you briefly mentioned "The Silver Sword" by Ian Serraillier. I'm from the U.S. and had never heard of it, but just finished reading it and it was delightful! I love to throw in an occasional children's book, so nice and cozy. Let me recommend one of my childhood favorites: "A Little Princess" by Frances Hodgson Burnett (but don't bother with the movie, it's no good).

[@katiejlumsden]

Oh, so glad to hear you enjoyed it! So, I have not read A Little Princess, but I have seen the film. I should probably read it sometime.

[@jersy6406]

I loved No Name, it feels like a villian origin story.

[@cedarspringdesign]

If only I had been born in Cornwall and learned English-English. No so easy to follow as an American-English speaker.

[@AngryPapaSmurf]

Wilkie is much more accessible then Dickens, very enjoyable and his works remain fresh and have a modern feel.

[@ladyredl3210]

10:45 that sounds like something Marie Correlli would write. I also hated Basil he’s so up his own butt! Edit:Amradeale is my favorite Collins. Lydia is an amazing villain, I love her.

[@manolitita_gafotas]

I´m currently reading "The Woman in White" and, unfortunately, I don´t find it nearly as good as "The Moonstone", but I´ll put "Armadale" on my next Victober TBR, thank you for the recommendation :)

[@apollonia6656]

The only character I enjoyed in the Moonstone was Gabriel Betteridge;the character that got on my nerves was Miss Clank. Anyway, my number one Wilkie Collins book is The Woman in White. As for Poor Miss Finch ? I honestly couldn't empath with any of the characters. The novel felt hurried and Oscar with his twin Nugent kept messing up the supposed plot...blindness. If the 13 Wilkie Collins books I have means that the fourth in my very long TBR is No Name ......I am very strict with my list and if a book is placed at Number 16, for example, of that month of reading them I will have to read it ! My misfortune this year is that my TBR consists of more that 70% of books that are brick size 😅....the rest, in average , are in the 550-750 pages eg: Wilkie Collins !😊

[@marcevan1141]

I have only read "Woman in White" and "The Moonstone. " I absolutely loved them both , though I was slightly disappointed in the endings.

[@katiejlumsden]

Yeah, I found the ending of The Woman in White especially a bit long and silly.

[@marcevan1141]

@@katiejlumsden Yes, but his gift for character, narrative momentum and atmosphere more than makes up for it.

[@felixarquer7732]

@@katiejlumsden What aspect of the ending do you find silly?

[@davebonello1944]

(Melanie here) I have read 2 Wilkie Collins novels - The Moonstone and The Woman in White. I enjoyed both but especially The Woman in White. One question I had about the end of The Woman in White is (SPOILER ALERT) - How did Walter and his wife marry if she didn't have a legal name at that point? Just a question :)

[@katiejlumsden]

So, this seems to come up a lot in Victorian novels - people often marry with false names etc and it still seems to be legal. I'm not 100% certain how the law worked at this time!

[@davebonello1944]

@@katiejlumsden Thanks :)

[@phoebegarrett3055]

Who else wishes there was a movie on his book armadale? I sure do.

[@nedmerrill5705]

The only Wilkie Collins I've read so far is _The Woman in White,_ and I have very mixed feelings about it. The thing I feel that is "odd" about it is the amount of attention he spends on eavesdropping. Eavesdropping, eavesdropping on eavesdroppers, etc. etc. and on and on. So much sneaking around trying to find out who knows what about whom. So, it's like, "What are these characters listening for? What happens if they are caught? Why should I care? I forget." And adds a lot of length to the novel. I will try the _Moonstone,_ and see if that's an improvement before I give up on him entirely.

[@katiejlumsden]

Yeah, he is just a bit . . . odd sometimes!

[@marichristian1072]

"Woman in White" is a brilliant novel. Characters and plot were a novelistic breakthrough. Social commentary is woven throughout- especially the fate of married women who could be committed for life in an institution at the whim of a rapacious husband. I like "The Moonstone" but despite its intriguing narrative pattern, it fails to engage me as much as "Woman in White".

[@kerrygraham3544]

Just a comment on presentation, and don't take this too badly. Please, take a deep breath and slow down.

[@Socratez7]

Woman in white, moonstone, armadale, no name, are his four masterpieces (the four novels in the 1860s when he was at his peak) and poor miss finch, law and the lady, and haunted hotel are also excellent. Basil was actually pretty good for an early work: not top drawer but good. No Name btw is seriously underrated. Your criticism of No name and of “wanting more of the other sister” is quite weak (as you admit midway in your criticism) since the protagonist had to be the more adventurous sister. Also woman in white as an “almost hit” ?!?!!

[@katiejlumsden]

I think I'll probably reread No Name one of these days and enjoy it more.

[@bookingthroughlife]

I just finished Hide and Seek and loved it. I thought Collins did a great job representing a Deaf person and I loved the hopeful ending. One thing that I found annoying is that the chapters names were spoilers. Why would the author spoil his own book? I am intrigued by what might have annoyed you. Was it something to do with Zach and Madonna? 🧐 Thanks for another fantastic video.

[@Dinadoesyoga]

I'm guessing the big reveal at the end about Zach and Madonna.

[@katiejlumsden]

Yes, that's it. I found the thing at the end with Zack and Madonna really frustrating - it felt like Wilkie Collins had kind of played a mean joke at Madonna's expense? I don't know, just left a bad taste in my mouth, though I enjoyed so much of the rest of the book.

[@LuminousLibro]

I was also really frustrated with Basil! He’s so idiotic and makes such bad decisions. Haha!

[@katiejlumsden]

Right?!

[@clairecopple4369]

I have read an awful lot of Collins novels, even some quite obscure ones, and I love him as an author. But Basil was a problem for me from the start. I think it was an early one, so maybe can be forgiven!

[@KevTheImpaler]

I have read The Woman in White and The Moonstone. I thought Uncle Fairlie was very funny in Woman in White. He seemed like a cross between Charles Hawtry and Brian Sewell. Camp and arch as anything. I liked Drusilla Clack in The Moonstone. Such a massive hypocrite.

[@kellybrown8638]

May I make a respectful comment? I really want to understand what you are saying.... but it is very hard to understand you. I am a North American. English is my home language. You are speaking so quickly, and not pausing between sentences... at times it sounds like the video is sped up. Also, where you are recording your video is causing a slight echo. Getting a clip on microphone will improve your sound quality. I hope you keep doing these videos. Really enjoyed your observations.

[@katiejlumsden]

Hi, and thanks! My videos aren't sped up - they're actually all digitally slowed down, believe it or not. I naturally speak very fast. KZbin lets you slow down videos further, if you click the little cog in the corner, which I recommend if it's useful for you. I have tried microphones before, but sadly that's just how it sounds in my home! I'm hoping to get curtains and a carpet sometime soon, which might help absorb the echo!

[@suganthym1438]

Might want to slow it. An option utube does provide.

[@apollonia6656]

We English tend to speak much, much slower than Americans and here is an example that really shook me ! No, I am not being rude or offensive in anyway whatsoever, but I just cannot keep up with you, Jennifer. Slowing the speed does make it sound weird. Gosh, if you read as fast as you talk you would finish Les Miserables in less than an hour ! Kind regards from Cheshire.

[@jeffreykaufmann2867]

Man and Wife is my least favorite Collins Novel.