Man and Wife

by Wilkie Collins, Norman Page (Editor)

Overview

Man and Wife (1870) combines the fast pace and sensational plot structure of Collins's most famous novels with a biting attack on the inequitable marriage laws in Victorian Britain. At its centre is the plight of a woman who fears that the archaic marriage laws of Scotland and Ireland may have forced her into committing unintentional bigamy. As the novel progresses, the atmosphere grows increasingly sinister when the setting moves from a country house to a London suburb and a world of confinement, plotting, and murder.

About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199538171
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	12/01/2008
Series:	Oxford World's Classics Series
Pages:	688
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.60(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Wilkie Collins (1824-1889) was an English novelist and playwright. Born in London, Collins was raised in England, Italy, and France by William Collins, a renowned landscape painter, and his wife Harriet Geddes. After working for a short time as a tea merchant, he published Antonina (1850), his literary debut. He quickly became known as a leading author of sensation novels, a popular genre now recognized as a forerunner to detective fiction. Encouraged on by the success of his early work, Collins made a name for himself on the London literary scene. He soon befriended Charles Dickens, forming a strong bond grounded in friendship and mentorship that would last several decades. His novels The Woman in White (1859) and The Moonstone (1868) are considered pioneering examples of mystery and detective fiction, and enabled Collins to become financially secure. Toward the end of the 1860s, at the height of his career, Collins began to suffer from numerous illnesses, including gout and opium addiction, which contributed to his decline as a writer. Beyond his literary work, Collins is seen as an early advocate for marriage reform, criticizing the institution and living a radically open romantic lifestyle.

Date of Birth:

December 8, 1824

Date of Death:

September 23, 1889

Place of Birth:

London, England

Place of Death:

London, England

Education:

Studied law at Lincoln¿s Inn, London

Editorial Reviews

Narrator Nicholas Boulton delivers a solid performance of Wilkie Collins’s novel, which casts light on the complicated marriage laws of nineteenth-century Scotland. As a villainous plotter tries to ensnare two victims in a trap to free himself from responsibility, their friends seek the truth. Collins provides a diverse cast of characters whom Boulton expertly portrays with vocal characterizations. From the soft cadence of young Blanche to the resonant tone of Geoffrey Delamayn, Boulton captures each character. In his portrayal of Sir Patrick Lundie, an eccentric Scottish bachelor and lawyer, Boulton illuminates the old gentleman’s wit and kindly demeanor. This audiobook promises an intricate web of intrigue, and Boulton’s talented narration makes it enjoyable each step of the way. D.M.W. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

FEBRUARY 2022 - AudioFile

Narrator Nicholas Boulton delivers a solid performance of Wilkie Collins’s novel, which casts light on the complicated marriage laws of nineteenth-century Scotland. As a villainous plotter tries to ensnare two victims in a trap to free himself from responsibility, their friends seek the truth. Collins provides a diverse cast of characters whom Boulton expertly portrays with vocal characterizations. From the soft cadence of young Blanche to the resonant tone of Geoffrey Delamayn, Boulton captures each character. In his portrayal of Sir Patrick Lundie, an eccentric Scottish bachelor and lawyer, Boulton illuminates the old gentleman’s wit and kindly demeanor. This audiobook promises an intricate web of intrigue, and Boulton’s talented narration makes it enjoyable each step of the way. D.M.W. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

FEBRUARY 2022 - AudioFile