The Woman in White

By: Wilkie Collins

Narrated by: Roger Rees, Rosalyn Landor, John Lee, Judy Geeson

Length: 25 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Young Walter Hartright meets the mysterious woman in white in what soon became one of the most popular novels of the 19th century. Secrets, mistaken identities, surprise revelations, amnesia, locked rooms and locked asylums, and an unorthodox villain made this mystery thriller an instant success when it first appeared in 1860, and it has continued to enthrall ever since.

From the hero's foreboding before his arrival at Limmeridge House to the nefarious plot concerning the beautiful Laura, the breathtaking tension of Collins's narrative created a new literary genre of suspense fiction, which profoundly shaped the course of English popular writing.

Generally considered the first English sensation novel, The Woman in White features the remarkable heroine Marian Halcombe and her sleuthing partner, drawing-master Walter Hartright, pitted against the diabolical team of Count Fosco and Sir Percival Glyde. A gripping tale of murder, intrigue, madness, and mistaken identity, Collins's psychological thriller has never been out of print since its publication in 1860.

While Collins's other great mystery, The Moonstone, has been called the finest detective story ever written, it was this work that so gripped the imagination of the world that Wilkie Collins had his own tombstone inscribed "Author of The Woman in White."

Public Domain (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Excellent Book, Great Narration

The narration of Mr Fairly was so well done, I’m still grinning. A new favorite.

Very Different! Excellent!

So happy I gave this book a chance! It is written in old English style, which is kind of like listening to a book in a foreign language, but once you get used to it, you will be treated to an outstanding mystery/thriller/romance novel with tons of twists, turns and complex characters. I absolutely LOVED it!

Brilliant book

I couldn't put it down and I loved the end. I will read it again.

Slow to start, but then you can’t put it down!

Love the narrators, lovely job.

The beginning of the story seems so simple and slow, but once it picks up in the 2nd section it really takes on an epic conspiracy of its own.


Highly recommended

Interesting Turn of Events

It was hard getting into this book at first but as the story unfolds it keeps you wondering what is really going on. It is also interesting to read knowing it was written in the late 1800’s. The narrators did a great job of bringing the characters to life.

Wonderfully wordy

An excellent 19th century mystery beautifully written by the author and performed by the narrators.

Father of Mysteries

The Woman in White is an intriguing novel. Although it moves at a stately, Victorian pace, it keeps you guessing all the way. Although I've read The Woman in White as well, unless you really enjoy holding a hefty Victorian novel in your hands, listening is the way to go. If you enjoy contemporary mysteries, take some time to see where it all began.

Excellent Book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes - Great Thriller

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The end of the book was the best, great climax.

Any additional comments?

The book and narrator were great.

Wow! An amazing read and outstanding listen!

- STORY -

I am a big fan of Victorian literature and have previously only read one other book of Wilkie Collin's--"The Moonstone". I am not ashamed to say that "The Woman in White" completely blows its successor out of the water. If you're not used to the literature of the British 1800's, just be aware that it can be very prosy at times. I had decided on a whim to read "The Woman in White", as it was unread still on my Kindle. I picked up the audiobook because, as a new teacher, I don't have time to always sit and read. Being able to switch back and forth from the text to the narration let me continue to read/listen when I was busy. The story itself is absolutely astounding, and I think it has officially taken it's place among my top favorite books of all time. The writing is beautiful, the characters are real, the villains are cunning, the romances are heartbreaking, and the heroes are worth rooting for.

The story is told by the perspective of several different narrators. Consider it like a report of events that have already transpired, and these many narrators are all chiming in to make as clear a recollection of the incidents as possible. The story itself revolves primarily around two woman--Anne Catherick, a woman dawned all in white who has recently escaped from an asylum, and her doppelganger, the rich heiress Laura Fairlie. The two women who so similarly resemble one another are caught up in a terrible and fatal web of deceit and scandal that stretches since their birth. Anne Catherick, who has suffered deeply because of it, desperately wants to save Laura from the same fate, due to the love she bears Laura's late mother, Mrs. Fairlie. That is really the most I can say without giving anything essential away. I loved the many different characters, but Marian Halcombe (Laura's half-sister) most of all.

Collin's had be seriously on the edge of my seat several times as I read, and screaming out at some of the characters. There were twists that I didn't see coming, and characters that were once trustworthy turned out to be two-faced. There was romance, but also mystery and suspense. I would absolutely recommend this book to all who have the opportunity to read it. Psst! It's free on the Kindle!

- AUDIO PERFORMANCE -

The narration and performance of this story was amazingly done. Though there was a multitude of characters, the four individuals that put this book together did an amazing job at making each sound different and unique. There were some instances in which there was a similarity of character voices, but it was extremely rare and almost completely unnoticeable. Each of the actors did a splendid job at putting emotion and life into the story. A review of this audio performance that I had read once, prior to my purchasing a copy, compared the audio execution of this story to being center front stage to a play. They were NOT kidding! It really was so easy to forget you were listening to a narration. It was like listening to an episodic radio drama or carrying a play in your pocket. I could find no fault with the performance or the narrators whatsoever. Amazingly done.

Intriguing

Would you consider the audio edition of The Woman in White to be better than the print version?

I imagine it is easier to listen to this book than to read. It is extremely long, but the performance was exceptional.