In Wilkie Collins' The Woman in White, art teacher Walter Hartright encounters a distressed woman in white in London before taking up a new position at Limmeridge House, where he falls in love with Laura, who resembles the mysterious woman. Despite a foreboding warning, Laura marries Sir Percival Glyde, leading to a sinister plot involving switched identities, deceit, and wrongful asylum commitments.

Wilkie Collins' The Woman in White is lauded for its intricate, suspenseful plot and vivid characterizations, maintaining reader intrigue with its sensational elements. Some critics find the pacing uneven, with overly detailed descriptions. Overall, it is a pioneering work in the mystery genre that captivates despite minor flaws.

Readers who enjoy thrilling Victorian sensations with intricate plots will relish The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. Comparable to fans of Dickens' Bleak House and Brontë's Jane Eyre, this novel captivates with its mysteries, strong characters, and social commentary.

Wilkie Collins

Adult

Novel

Fiction

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Overview

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The Woman in White Summary

Background

The Woman in White Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “The First Epoch”, Part 1, Section 1: “The Story Begun by Walter Hartright”

Part 1, Section 1

The Woman in White Part 1, Section 1 Summary & Analysis

Part 1: “The First Epoch”, Part 1, Section 2: “The Story Continued by Vincent Gilmore” - Part 1, Section 3: “The Story Continued by Mary Halcomb”

Part 1, Sections 2-3

The Woman in White Part 1, Sections 2-3 Summary & Analysis

Part 2: “The Second Epoch”,  Part 2, Section 1: “The Story Continued by Marian Halcombe” - Part 2, Section 2: “The Story Continued by Frederick Fairlie, Esq.”

Part 2, Sections 1-2

The Woman in White Part 2, Sections 1-2 Summary & Analysis

Part 2: “The Second Epoch”, Part 2, Section 3: “The Story Continued by Eliza Michelson” - Part 2, Section 4: “The Story Continued in Several Narratives”

Part 2, Sections 3-4

The Woman in White Part 2, Sections 3-4 Summary & Analysis

Part 3: “The Third Epoch” , Part 3, Section 1: “The Story Continued by Walter Hartright” - Part 3, Section 5: “The Story Concluded by Walter Hartright”

The Woman in White

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