the Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

I was given the chance to read this out-of-print novel and started it with less than exceptional zeal. It sounded like a Jane Austen/the Count of Monte Cristo type read. And can you guess? It was! But what I didn't know was that those two books melded together could make such a great story!

This story is told by several of the involved characters - I've seen one or two characters doing that, but this is around ten which was something new that I liked. The story starts when a humble drawing teacher by the name of Walter Hartright meets a lady on the road dressed all in white. She is very distressed, flurried, and afraid of something and he helps her find London. As he walks down the road afterwards he overhears men from the asylum talking about their runaway - a woman dressed completely in white. We hear no more of the white lady for awhile, while Walter falls in love with one of his pupils, Laura Fairlie. And amazingly, she looks extraordinarily like the woman he helped on the road! But her sister, Marian informs him that she is engaged to a Sir Percival Glyde. Laura's father had set the match on his deathbed and she could not possibly go back on her word. An anonymous letter arrives, warning her not to go through with it. But she is unable to be released from the engagement and she does unwillingly marry Sir Percival, which is more than I thought would happen, and we are introduced to a friend of his by the name of Count Fosco. He is one of those characters you can never form a solid opinion on until the end. The woman in white, Anne Catherick, returns to the story and tells Laura there is a great secret about Sir Percival that would ruin him if unearthed. Walter delves into the mystery of Anne Catherick and Sir Percival, and you cannot foresee ANYTHING that is going to happen.
I read all that and figure out that I have NOT COME NEAR telling you about this book! There is so much mystery you'll have to read it for yourself. It is more for teens and adults, but because of hard words, not iffy content. There is mayhem, mistaken identity and all the things that guys love shoved into a girl's book! I'm sure some guys are capable of enjoying it too - but probably wouldn't dare touch it. If you can get your hands on a copy it is worth having in your home library! I need to buy it myself.
Rated: G

Author - Wilkie Collins
Country - United Kingdom
Language - English
Genre(s) - Epistolary, Mystery Novel, Sensation novel
Publisher - All the Year Round
Publication date - 1859 - 1860