The Woman in White

By: Wilkie Collins

Narrated by: Josephine Bailey, Simon Prebble

Length: 25 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

One of the greatest mystery thrillers ever written, Wilkie Collins's The Woman in White was a phenomenal best seller in the 1860s, achieving even greater success than works by Charles Dickens. Full of surprise, intrigue, and suspense, this vastly entertaining novel continues to enthrall audiences today.

The story begins with an eerie midnight encounter between artist Walter Hartright and a ghostly woman dressed all in white who seems desperate to share a dark secret. The next day Hartright, engaged as a drawing master to the beautiful Laura Fairlie and her half sister, tells his pupils about the strange events of the previous evening.

Determined to learn all they can about the mysterious woman in white, the three soon find themselves drawn into a chilling vortex of crime, poison, kidnapping, and international intrigue.

Masterfully constructed, The Woman in White is dominated by two of the finest creations in all Victorian fiction: Marion Halcombe, dark, mannish, yet irresistibly fascinating, and Count Fosco, the sinister and flamboyant "Napoleon of Crime".

Public Domain (P)2010 Tantor

Victorian suspense brought to life!

Great narration of a sometimes dense and very long book. Though I knew the gist of the story from movies, etc., I had never read the novel because of its length. So glad I bought the audio book! The character's voices were all distinct and interesting to listen to and the two narrators brought them to life. The danger of any novel with multiple points of view is that the reader is inevitably sorry when the next character/narrator appears, but the audio narration here is so seamless that within a short while the reader is interested and acclimated again and ready to keep going. As rediculous as it sounds, I wish the book could have gone on even longer.

Ever Timely

Would you listen to The Woman in White again? Why?

No. Once was enough. But I enjoyed it and would recommend it to others.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I wish I understood more about the secret societies functioning in Europe at the time. Were they a 19th century version of the Mafia? This is the first book I've read that alluded to such organizations.

Which scene was your favorite?

Any scene the Count was in.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. I used to to put myself to sleep at night.

Any additional comments?

I wanted more information about the relationship between Laura's father and the Baronet and why he was so set on having his daughter marry the man.

A fun piece of mystery history

What made the experience of listening to The Woman in White the most enjoyable?

Listening to The Woman in White brought out the drama of the moments and the flavor of the different characters.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

The story itself is a little drawn out and sometimes melodramatic. The idea is refreshing and the mystery kept me guessing the first time I read it.

Which character – as performed by Josephine Bailey and Simon Prebble – was your favorite?

I loved to listen to Count Fosco as read by Simon Prebble as much as I love to hate the character himself.

A Classic

A little bit long, dragged at some times, especially at the beginning. Also seemed a bit repetitive in a few sections, but very good narration.

What a read! Loved it!

Sadly my memory and/or my English Lit curriculum had left a gap in my knowledge. I can't believe that I had never heard of Wilkie Collins or The Woman in White. But I am glad that it was made into a PBS special and caught my attention. Though I enjoyed the TV version, it holds no candle to the book itself. Even knowing much of the plot from the PBS program, I just let the book and Collin's narrative take me away on the twists and turns of this beautiful and suspenseful novel. [By the way, the book and the PBS program are not aligned so it is not just a repeat.] Collins' writing is somehow both plain and florid at the same time. HIs detailed regard to the investigative story frame holds it all together with just enough suspense that it allowed me to enjoy the linear crime novel while being bathed in the 19th century literary flourishes of description and character development. I am recommending it to everyone.

Not that well known classic hits home!

What made the experience of listening to The Woman in White the most enjoyable?

I was looking for a good read that didn't have a contemporary feel. Occasionally, I enjoy that. For example, Doyle's Complete Sherlock Holmes or even the modern author Connie Willis' To Say Nothing of the Dog. I'm not a Jane Austin fan, but once in awhile I have that urge to sink into something that comes at you slow, without profanity, and without wild crazy stuff.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

It had its moments of boredom like every book in this style, but the point of view changes saved it. Never did I want to reach over and click it off or move it to the next chapter..

Which character – as performed by Josephine Bailey and Simon Prebble – was your favorite?

Neither out classes the other and they mixed well. I am just finishing a Baldacci book, First Family, where the two narrators didn't mesh well at all, leaving me with a disgruntled discomfort until I finally accepted it. In contrast, Bailey and Prebble worked well together and the audio mixing was excellent.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Of course not! That was the whole point of choosing it! I wanted to be immersed in the times! The book delivered.

Any additional comments?

For the right listener and at the right time, I would recommend it.

Fantastic

What did you love best about The Woman in White?

A great story. I listen when I walk and when I cook. And then keep with it on my Kindle.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Marian

What about Josephine Bailey and Simon Prebble ’s performance did you like?

Great performance

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Just wanted to keep listening and reading

Stellar

This is one of the best books I've ever read or listened to. I'm going to miss everyone from it, but Fosco especially. What an exceptionally conceived character.

very enjoyable

In spite of being 3 segements long this tale keeps the listener in suspense through out. The use of several different narriators to move the story along is fun, interesting and well written. It was a surprise when both "good guys" and "bad guys" wrote their part of the adventure. I think this was the best book of the summer!

Worth a listen, maybe two

What did you love best about The Woman in White?

It was an interesting story and I liked the change of character narration, so you experienced the events through the perspectives of different characters. I thought it layed out a few good story threads within the overall mystery and kept a good pace, even though it is long book.

Which scene was your favorite?

I liked how the ended played out.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It's too long to do that! You will want avoid putting down for too long though because you don't want to forget where you are in the story, as it builds upon earlier accounts of other narrators.

Any additional comments?

Some people commented that having both male and female narrators (for different chapters or sections of the book) was distracting, but I didn't have a problem with it and I think it worked well.

I may listen to this book again. I found this book needing more of my full attention than some other books, so I'm sure I missed some interesting bits along the way.