The Woman in White
The Woman in White is a mystery novel written by Wilkie Collins and first published in 1859. It is one of the outstanding works of the sensational novel, very popular in the 19th century. It was a great success since its publication and gave the author great fame.
Laura Fairlie is a beautiful and wealthy woman who is married to a fortune hunter, Sir Percival. Sir Percival stages Laura's death to try to keep all her money. Marian, Laura's half-sister, and her drawing teacher Walter Hartright will try to prevent this from happening at all costs and that Laura doesn't lose her money. To do this, Walter Hartright becomes a master detective.
The story maintains tension throughout and masterfully blends a diverse set of characters. In addition, it has a critical component with the restrictions on women in the Victorian era and the class system.
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Public domain (US)·No sign-up·DRM-free·Real text, not scans
Copyright note. The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins is believed to be in the public domain in the United States only. It may still be copyrighted in other countries. If you are not in the United States, please check your local laws to ensure this eBook is in the public domain in your country before downloading The Woman in White in PDF or EPUB.
- Pages
- 673
- Reading time
- 20 hours 47 minutes
- Pace
- Intermediate
- First published
- 1859
- Language
- English
- Downloads
- 3,675
167 years later, still timely
Why Read The Woman in White in 2026?
A midnight figure, forged papers, and gaslit persuasion. Collins invents the psychological thriller with testimonies, diaries, and witnesses pieced like evidence—turning administration into menace.
Today's connection
Timely for thinking about identity, coercive control, and legal power. Bureaucracy can be the villain; records can be rescue.
Paranoia with receipts
Watchfulness as survival.
Law as weapon
Contracts, clinics, and control.
Documentary form
Voices layered like a case file.
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About the author
Wilkie Collins
Mystery architecture and sensation fiction; law family and identity under pressure.
