The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

[Girliefriendlikesflowers]

Have just finished this book and loved it, my only unanswered question relates to why Laura's father was so keen that she marry the horrible Sir Percival? I can't understand why an otherwise good father would desire his then teenage daughter should marry him.

I wondered if he had been blackmailed into saying it he wanted the marriage but this isn't made clear in the book.

Anyway I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, which other classics should I try next?

If you liked the Wilkie Collins, then try his The Moonstone, similar gothic feel Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu Uncle Silas and his novella Carmilla; wonderful gripping melodramas East Lynne by Mrs Henry Wood, and Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon; Bram Stoker's Dracula is excellent and nothing like the adaptations. If you want something long but excellent then Thackeray's Vanity Fair. If you like long more soap-opera-style/mixed with mystery and comedy, books then Dickens's Our Mutual Friend and Bleak House.

As for Sir Percival I think blackmail is one possible explanation, or it could have been because of his estate and position, it's not clear I agree, from what I can remember anyway.

Thank you dottier The Moonstone is def on the list!!

Here's a readalong thread
that's starting on 10 September for Middlemarch if you want to join us - some people don't like it and find it long and dull, for others it's their favourite of all time. I adore it.

I loved The Law and the Lady by Wilkie Collins - not one of his Big Four (Armadale, Moonstone, No Name, TWIWhite). Moonstone is great. Couldn't get into Armadale, haven't read No Name (but this is a good prompt to do so!)

Downloading the LeFanu suggestion from Dottie's suggestions to my Kindle as we speak, though Dracula blighted part of an otherwise glorious Victorian Literature elective in my degree.

I think it can be a bit luck of the draw which Dickenses you get on with. I loved Bleak House, Great Expectations, Hard Times (not usually a popular one). Didn't like Oliver Twist. Gave up on Dombey & Son. Thought Quilp in The Old Curiosity Shop was fantastic, but otherwise couldn't wait for it to end.

Anne Bronte's Tenant of Wildfell Hall is great, and I also liked Agnes Grey, which is a shorter read.

I do intend to read a lot more Anthony Trollope, as I enjoyed The Small House at Allington and The Eustace Diamonds, but they don't fit the Gothic/mystery category quite so much, more just solid Victorian realism novels!

Delores haven't managed to engage with Trollope so far, I liked the first of the Palliser series but couldn't get into the rest, but have The Way We Live Now on my pile.

My favourite Dickens's are the later novels plus Nicholas Nickleby, David Copperfield, Barnaby Rudge and A Tale of Two Cities but like you didn't enjoy Oliver Twist or The Old Curiosity Shop, felt guilty about how annoyed I was by Little Nell. The Bronte novels you listed are also my favourites of any of the Bronte novels. I'll try The Law and the Lady Collins is a bit hit and miss in my experience so far, so great to get a recommendation.