Product Description

Despite the grave misgivings of both their families, Valeria Brinton and Eustace Woodville are married. But before long the new bride begins to suspect a dark secret in her husband’s past and when she discovers that he has been living under a false name, she determines to find out why he is concealing his true identity from her. Soon she must endure an even greater shock: the revelation that her husband has been on trial for poisoning his first wife. Convinced of his innocence, Valeria is prepared to do anything to clear her husband’s name, and in so doing upturns the conventions of polite nineteenth century society.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #323837 in Books
• Published on: 2004-09-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 496 pages

About the Author
Wilkie (William) Collins (1824-89) was a hugely successful and popular crime, mystery and suspense writer. He wrote the first full-length detective novels in English and set a mould for the genre as shown in The Moonstone and The Woman in White. David Skilton teaches at the University of Wales, Cardiff.

Customer Reviews

She is convinced of her husband's innocence - so who did it?
This book, originally serialised in a Victorian weekly magazine, has all the elements of a gothic soap opera. James Bond would be disappointed at the lack of explicit sex and violence, but the pace and intrigue is all there. Each chapter leaves you with a cliff-hanging discovery as the heroine, Valeria, battles against the odds and despite any advice, to clear her husband's name from what she believe to be a miscarriage of justice.
So who committed the crime? Was it the jealous widow? Or the demented, deformed friend? Or could it have been an accident? Or - it must be considered - was it her husband after all?
And why are so many people determined to dissuade her from her task? As she delves into the past, she uncovers the factors which in each individual have contributed to the tragedy: mis-placed love, honour, indiscretion, vanity, self-interest - and at the end is left with the problem of what to do with the information.
Wilkie Collins is widely regarded as the inventor of the detective novel, and although "The Law and the Lady" is a book of its era, it is a very enjoyable read.

Fascinating insight
This book provided and amazing insight into the legal position of women during the era of Collins. Much the same as the rest of his books, I was unable to put this down until I had finished it. The interweaving of storylines and the level of details and emotion described was incredible.

I've loved his other books but this is one for real fans
I have always been a huge fan of Wilkie Collins; at this time of year there is nothing nicer than settling down with `The Woman in White' or `The Moonstone.' You'll understand then, that I have been saving `The Law and the Lady' and have been really looking forward to it and I had high expectations.

Valeria marries Eustace Woodville against the wishes of both their families, and it soon comes to light that her husband has a dark secret; he was accused of poisoning his first wife! Valeria never doubts her husband's innocence (unlike the Scottish Court who gave the case a verdict of `not proven') and sets out to prove he didn't kill her. After reading the Trial Valeria contacts Misserimus Dexter, a friend of her husband's, in order to see if he can help her. Dexter is probably Collin's most bizarre and outlandish character, a man in a wheelchair who suffers from delusions. Will she ever discover who killed Catherine?

As this novel was written in Victorian times don't expect something that is politically correct. For a modern readership, the portrayal of disability can at times be difficult to stomach. I also have to admit that I was somewhat disappointed; the plot isn't as intricate and characters aren't as interesting or complex as in his other novels. This is one for real fans. If you want to read Collins at his best, I'd advise you to look to his other novels.