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.

A Suspense that Keeps You Guessing

Walter Hartright, a young art teacher, is startled when he is overtaken by a young woman dressed entirely in white while walking on the road from Hampstead to London. Visibly distressed, the young woman begs him to show her the way to London, and he offers to accompany her there. The young woman accepts his offer on the condition that he allow her to come and go as she pleases. Once he's dropped her off in London, two men in hot pursuit claim that the girl has escaped a mental asylum and must be returned there at once, but Walter does nothing to help them in their search. The next day he arrives at Limmeridge House, where he has gained a position as a drawing master. There he meets his young pupils, half sisters Marian and Laura. In no time at all, her befriends Marian—no great beauty is she, but quick, smart and amusing—and falls desperately in love with the heavenly loveliness that is Laura. But the encounter with the woman in white will carry many consequences.

I took absolute delight in discovering all the plot twists of this great classic mystery, so will disclose no more of the story nor of how it is told, but will say that it offers a wonderfully evil conspiracy and several highly memorable characters, not least of which the strange and compelling villain Count Fosco, who stole every scene in which he appeared, in my view. Also, the sublimely selfish Frederick Fairlie is one of the most memorable invalids I have ever encountered in a work of fiction. I must say that this version, narrated by Simon Prebble and Josephine Bailey, greatly increased my enjoyment of the tale, with wonderfully rendered characters. Now that I've listened to it and that there are no more secrets for me to discover, I still look forward to listening to it again for a fun romp with highly colourful characters and plenty of Gothic frissons.

An interesting read that held my attention

I like to rate books based on how excited I feel about diving back in each day and this story did not disappoint. Highly recommend for Jane Austen readers.