Wilkie Collins

I’ve formerly recommended Wilkie Collins’s books based solely on my experience reading The Moonstone, which I quite liked. And I promised an update when I finished reading The Woman in White, Collins’s earlier mystery novel. Here’s my consensus: Is it possible for me to grow up to be a 19th century male writer? Because I think he’s my new hero.

Collins’s novels aren't action packed, especially not in the way that modern mystery novels or movies are. While his plots are complex enough to keep you wondering how the forces of good will win in the end, his characters are the real reason to read. Each character is given a chance to speak for him- or herself, and they each express a unique voice and personality that draws you in, sometimes despite yourself. For instance, I ended up loving the villain, Count Fosco, despite—or maybe because of—his nefariousness. He loves white mice, vanilla bon bons, and the true heroine of the novel, Marian. His glee at duping the heroes is almost contagious, and I couldn’t help rooting for him, just a little.

The epistolary narrative style Collins favors might make you hesitate, but it shouldn’t. I felt that the broken narratives—written like letters or diary entries—helped me continue reading when the plot felt dry. After all, if I didn’t like the narrator, I could always look forward to a change in outlook in a few chapters.

I wouldn’t recommend reading Wilkie Collins on an every day, "entertainment reading" basis; his stories move a little too slowly for that. But if you're willing to read a little slower and you want to meet some of the most interesting fictional people in existence, you really should give Collins a try.