Summary
Published in 1860, The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins is widely considered one of the first mystery novels. This Victorian classic follows drawing teacher Walter Hartright as he becomes entangled in a web of identity, insanity, and intrigue surrounding two lookalike women. Collins drew inspiration from real-life cases of women being wrongfully committed to asylums, using the story to critique the legal status of married women in 19th-century England. With its innovative multi-narrator structure and gripping plot twists, The Woman in White was a groundbreaking work, and its influence can be seen in countless mystery and detective stories. What’s more, the novel's exploration of themes such as identity, gender inequities, and mental illness continues to resonate with readers.
Plot
The Woman in White opens with Walter Hartright encountering a mysterious woman dressed in white on a moonlit road in London. He later learns she escaped from an asylum. Walter then travels to Limmeridge House to work as a drawing master for Laura Fairlie and her half-sister, Marian Halcombe. Walter and Laura fall in love, but Laura is engaged to Sir Percival Glyde. Despite warning signs, Laura marries Glyde, and they travel to Italy.
Six months later, the couple returns to Glyde's estate, Blackwater Park, accompanied by Count Fosco. Marian overhears Glyde and Fosco plotting against Laura. The villains switch Laura's identity with Anne Catherick, the woman in white, who is terminally ill. Laura is committed to an asylum as Anne, while the real Anne dies and is buried as Laura. Marian rescues Laura, and they go into hiding with Walter in London.
Walter investigates and discovers Glyde's secret—he is illegitimate and therefore not entitled to his title or property. Glyde dies in a fire while trying to destroy evidence of this. Walter then learns Anne was Laura's half-sister. He forces a confession from Fosco by threatening to expose Fosco's involvement with an Italian nationalist society. This allows Laura's true identity to be legally restored.
Walter and Laura marry and have a son. Fosco flees England but is killed by Italian nationalists agents. The novel ends with Walter and Laura's son inheriting Limmeridge after the death of Laura's uncle, Frederick Fairlie. Throughout the story, multiple narrators recount the events, lending the novel elements of a detective story and legal drama.
Themes
Identity and deception
The vulnerability of women in Victorian society
The power of secrets and their consequences
Class distinctions and social mobility
The contrast between reason and emotion
The blurred line between sanity and madness
The strength of family bonds and loyalty
Setting
Set in the mid-19th century, The Woman in White unfolds primarily in Victorian England, capturing the era’s social norms and legal realities. The story begins in London, where the protagonist Walter Hartright has his fateful encounter with the mysterious woman dressed in white. From there, the narrative shifts to the fictional Limmeridge House in Cumberland, a picturesque rural setting that becomes central to the plot.
As the story progresses, the action moves between various locations in England, including the ominous Blackwater Park in Hampshire. This grand estate serves as a backdrop for much of the intrigue and suspense that drives the plot forward. The novel also briefly touches on Italy, where some characters travel, adding an international dimension to the predominantly English setting.
Throughout the story, Wilkie Collins vividly portrays the stark contrasts between bustling London and the tranquil countryside, as well as the differences between the lavish estates of the wealthy and the more modest dwellings of the working class. These diverse settings not only provide a rich backdrop for the unfolding mystery but also reflect the social hierarchies and tensions of Victorian society, which play a crucial role in the novel's themes and plot developments.
Characters
Walter Hartright: The protagonist, an art teacher who encounters the mysterious woman in white. He falls in love with Laura Fairlie and becomes embroiled in the sinister plot against her. Walter is intelligent, determined, and driven by a strong sense of justice. His sleuthing skills make him an early example of a detective character in literature.
Laura Fairlie: The beautiful and naive heiress who becomes the target of a nefarious scheme. She bears a striking resemblance to Anne Catherick and falls in love with Walter Hartright. Laura is gentle, trusting, and vulnerable, making her an easy target for manipulation.
Marian Halcombe: Laura's intelligent and resourceful half-sister. She is fiercely protective of Laura and becomes a key ally to Walter in uncovering the truth. While Marian is described as unattractive, she possesses a sharp mind and strong will, making her one of the novel’s most memorable characters.
Sir Percival Glyde: Laura's husband and one of the main antagonists. A baronet with a dark secret, Glyde conspires to steal Laura's fortune. He can be charming but is often abrasive and becomes increasingly desperate as his schemes unravel.
Count Fosco: Glyde's friend and co-conspirator, an intelligent and charismatic Italian nobleman. He is the mastermind behind the plot against Laura and proves to be a formidable opponent. Fosco is portrayed as eccentric, cunning, and morally ambiguous, making him one of literature's most intriguing villains.
Anne Catherick: The mysterious “woman in white” who resembles Laura Fairlie. She is a key figure in the mystery, holding a secret that threatens Sir Percival Glyde. Anne is mentally fragile and has a deep connection to Laura's family.
Frederick Fairlie: Laura's uncle and guardian. A selfish and weak-willed hypochondriac, he prioritizes his own comfort over his niece's well-being.
Countess Fosco: Laura's aunt and Count Fosco's wife. Once lively and independent, she is now completely subservient to her husband's will.
Professor Pesca: Walter's friend, an Italian language teacher. He unwittingly sets the story in motion by recommending Walter for the position at Limmeridge House.
Jane Catherick: Anne's unsympathetic, self-serving mother, who is involved in Glyde's schemes.
Quick facts
The Woman in White is considered one of the first mystery novels written in the English language and helped establish many of the genre’s conventions.
The novel was originally published in serial form from 1859 to 1860 in Charles Dickens's magazine All the Year Round.
Wilkie Collins was inspired to write the story after witnessing a woman in distress dressed all in white one night in London.
The character of Count Fosco was partly based on Napoleon III, whom Collins had met in Paris.
Collins drew on his legal training to structure the novel like a series of witness testimonies.
The Woman in White was an immediate bestseller and launched Collins's career as a novelist.
The novel explores themes of identity, insanity, and the vulnerable position of married women in Victorian society.
The Woman in White has been adapted numerous times for stage, radio, film, and TV, including a 2018 BBC miniseries starring Ben Hardy and Jessie Buckley.
Andrew Lloyd Webber turned the story into a West End musical in 2004.
Collins considered the novel his best work and had “Author of The Woman in White” inscribed on his tombstone.
About the Author
Wilkie Collins (1824-1889) was a pioneering English novelist and playwright. His most famous works include The Woman in White (1859), one of the earliest mystery novels, and The Moonstone (1868), considered by many to be the first modern English detective novel. Collins was a close friend and collaborator of Charles Dickens, with many of his stories first appearing in Dickens's magazine All the Year Round.
Born in London to a painter father, Collins spent part of his childhood in Italy and France, learning multiple languages. He initially worked as a tea merchant and studied law before turning to writing full-time. Collins achieved both critical and commercial success in the 1860s with his “sensation novels,” combining elements of Gothic romance and mystery. His intricate plots, unconventional narrative structures, and exploration of social issues helped establish him as one of the most popular authors of the Victorian era.
Collins struggled with gout for much of his adult life and became addicted to laudanum, which he took to manage the pain. This addiction, along with the loss of his friend and mentor Dickens in 1870, is thought to have contributed to a decline in the quality of his later works. Despite this, Collins remained a prolific writer until the end of his life, producing novels, short stories, and plays that often addressed controversial social topics of the day.
In his personal life, Collins eschewed traditional marriage, maintaining long-term relationships with two women simultaneously. His unconventional lifestyle and his progressive attitudes toward women's rights and social reform often found expression in his literary works, cementing his legacy as both an innovative author and a voice for social change in Victorian England.
