Twitter hashtag : #ccspin
Following this post, #14 was the elected number of my classics shortlist, which corresponds to The dead secret by Wilkie Collins. Here is a brief presentation of this novel, that I will start reading as soon as I have finished those I'm currently on :
"Oh my God !" to thinbk of that kind-hearted, lovely young woman, who brings happiness with her wherever she goes, bringing terror to me !"
It is fifteen years since Mrs Treverton dictated a secret to her maid, onl moments before her death in mysterious Porthgenna Tower. Now her daughter Rosamond has returned to uncover the past.
A mystery of unrelenting suspense and penetrating characterization, The Dead secret explores the relationship between a fallen woman, her illegitimate daughter and buried secrets, in a superb blend of romance and Gothic drama. Set in remote Cornwall, the novel anticipates The Woman in white, intermingling the same themes of disguise, deception and the dispossession of identity in a powerful and compelling narrative.
Collin's fourth novel, writen between promise and fame, The Dead secret represents an important phase in Collins's rise as a mystery writer and displays all the talent and energy that made him the most popular novelist of the 1860s.
As usual with classics, I'll start reading the story first and the introduction, chronology and explanatory notes later, for fear of spoilers !
I have only read two novels by Collins, The Moonstone, which I liked but not loved (well, it depended on who was narrating the chapter) and The haunted hotel, a short novel that I had to force myself to finish. This one looks really good !
This looks good! Happy spin reading, Iza!
ReplyDeleteThanks Juliana :)
DeleteI hope this one is good :)
ReplyDeleteSo do I, Greg, I heard good things about this one :)
DeleteI have The Moonstone and perhaps I will put it on my CC list one of these days. Enjoy this read! It sounds delightful.
ReplyDeleteI hope it is, Deb, enjoy the Moonstone when you get to it :)
DeleteWilkie Collins is one of my favourite Victorian authors, but I think his best books are The Woman in White, Armadale and No Name. I did enjoy The Dead Secret too, though. I hope you like it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips, Helen, I have The woman in white on my physical shelves too ^^
DeleteOMG, I read two by him, but never heard about this one!! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteIt's not the most famous, but I heard it's good :) Thanks Emma !
DeleteYears ago I read & thoroughly enjoyed The Moonstone and The Woman in White. And that was that. It wasn't until I joined the Classics Club that I learnt that Collins had a HUGE backlist of books. I've now read No Name (for a previous spin) and have several more on my TBR pile. I love these Victorian mystery/dramas and hope you do too :-)
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ReplyDeleteThe woman in white is next, I have it on a shelf behind me. He wrote a lot, didn't he, and I would love to read his biography, looks interesting :)
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