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

Unique storyline in the framework of a classic.

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

No - It's a long narrative

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes and No. At times the characters were a bit hard to keep straight but for the most part it kept you engaged

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene when the husband of the aunt was introduced to the household along with his physical description and psychological presence

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

Neither - Just absorbed in the plot

A Trip Through English Prose

Beautifully written mystery with the use of high English and the art of speech that just sounds like music to your ears. Our Americanization of the old British dialogue has ruined the beauty and rhythm of gentility and speech that fills this remarkable novel.

Very Highly Recommended

Set in 18th Century England, this book held my attention throughout. The reader learns a lot of the social classes, the restrictions, the heartbreak. The reader's performance is excellent; Sometimes edge-of-your-seat thrill, but always intriguing. I highly recommend this book.

Suspenseful & Engaging

I am only 2/3 through this book but am so engaged that I am ready to write a review. I typically listen to audiobooks on my commute but this story has me looking for more time to listen. At first, it was focused on scene setting and character development, but it quickly turned into a suspenseful “page turner”. The story, and the structure in which it is told, is excellent. It is a dark story, and as far as I can tell, there is likely not a cliche happy ending. But it is a good story. At times it even seems like an important story, especially, I imagine, for the time in which it was written.

The acting is also superb! The actors really make it clear which character you are hearing from and they communicate the personality of the variety of characters so well!

FRAUGHT, verbose, crafty, rather redundant

Perhaps just a wee bit of a spoiler; not too much at all: The main character is connected with two sisters. One isn't pretty but she's intelligent, humane, principled, kind, loving, courageous, and interesting. The other is pretty and sweet, but incompetent and dumb. People are codependent with her, deciding what she should and shouldn't be told in case she can't handle it. And what happens? The guy predictably marries the fluffy dumb girl instead of waking up to the potential of a partnership between equals. The story was mostly interesting and somewhat fresh despite this annoying piece of gender-based idiocy.

This is not a good book to listen to in bed. The content would be, but the tension throughout, and some of the narration don't loan themselves to it. Large parts of the narration were smooth and even. Just a few minor characters' voices were unpleasant.

White Gothic Mystery

This book may not be for everybody.I thoroughly enjoyed it.The intriguing mystery which is revealed at the end is only part of it.What I found interesting was the glimpse into a different period of which the author was very familiar.The language,the premises,morals of the day and the depiction of a bygone era by an author who lived in that bygone era.
It's an easier read than Bram Stroker's Dracula.Elements of Jane Austen and just a pinch of Dickens,more in the plot than Dickens'colorful descriptions of lower class characters.
The writing style was peculiar to many British novels of the 1860's and while lengthier than what might be written today,fascinating as it unfolds.I tried to read The Woman in White
20 years ago and never did get through it.Listening to it was much easier and entertaining.
Why wouldn't it be for you ??....People don't write that way today and that society doesn't exist anymore.However,that is exactly why I enjoyed it.

Fantastic, fantastic, fantastic!

What a mystery! This mystery was so full of suspense and surprises that I was unable to guess what would happen next! Every turn of the page was met with unexpected events!

A compelling read.

It took a few hours to peak my interest but once grabbed, I couldn't stop. Even had it playing at work. The main character does tend to carry on a bit. The actors are very good. The punch line at the climax of the story lost a bit of strength because it wasn't as obvious to me (in the 21st century!) just how serious the deed really was, but the true depth of the plot soon came out and only then could I understand the main characters' vehement reactions.

A greart performance for a wonderful classic

What did you love best about The Woman in White?

The story is a clever mystery whilst being a wonderfully immersive historical piece that provides a great insight and experience into the world of 19th century England.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Woman in White?

The story provided several excellent twists, and drew the reader in to champion the main charachters.

Have you listened to any of Josephine Bailey and Simon Prebble ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the first time I've heard the two readers and I loved their approach and delivery. It was pleasant to listen, over such a long book, to two different voices. I thought that perhaps listening to different voices for the same charachters might be confusing but it wasn't. The reading enhanced the story and the accents were well done.

i love this book

I have read this book about 4 times in. 2 years. a great book. I hate the Counts can't wait for them to get. their come up- ance. very well read.