This is the story of what a Woman's patience can endure, and what a Man's resolution can achieve. If the machinery of the Law could be depended on to fathom every case of suspicion, and to conduct every process of inquiry, with moderate assistance only from the lubricating influences of oil of gold, the events which fill these pages might have claimed their share of the public attention in a Court of Justice. But the Law is still, in certain inevitable cases, the pre-engaged servant of the long purse; and the story is left ...
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This is the story of what a Woman's patience can endure, and what a Man's resolution can achieve. If the machinery of the Law could be depended on to fathom every case of suspicion, and to conduct every process of inquiry, with moderate assistance only from the lubricating influences of oil of gold, the events which fill these pages might have claimed their share of the public attention in a Court of Justice. But the Law is still, in certain inevitable cases, the pre-engaged servant of the long purse; and the story is left to be told, for the first time, in this place. As the Judge might once have heard it, so the Reader shall hear it now. No circumstance of importance, from the beginning to the end of the disclosure, shall be related on hearsay evidence. When the writer of these introductory lines (Walter Hartright by name) happens to be more closely connected than others with the incidents to be recorded, he will describe them in his own person. When his experience fails, he will retire from the position of narrator; and his task will be continued, from the point at which he has left it off, by other persons who can speak to the circumstances under notice from their own knowledge, just as clearly and positively as he has spoken before them. Thus, the story here presented will be told by more than one pen, as the story of an offence against the laws is told in Court by more than one witness-with the same object, in both cases, to present the truth always in its most direct and most intelligible aspect; and to trace the course of one complete series of events, by making the persons who have been most closely connected with them, at each successive stage, relate their own experience, word for word. Let Walter Hartright, teacher of drawing, aged twenty-eight years, be heard first. - Taken from "The Woman In White" written by Wilkie Collins
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I enjoy long books. After the first couple of chapters, this book held no interest for me at all. It goes on and on but is meaningless. If this is an example of of great Victorian mystery, then count me out. J/S
Sueh
Nov 19, 2011
One of my favorites
I had read this book before but wanted a copy of my own. Tho written in the mid-1800s, it has a lively contemporary feel. The Moonstone is also written by Collins. They are both great places to live, and since both are long novels, that can be for quite a while.
rolltide4sure
Jul 16, 2009
MYSTERY
Although this book may be called a great mystery story it is also a wonderful love story well worth reading.
lsaj
Jun 25, 2009
Excellent
Even though it can be a bit wordy, I think it only helps to develop the characters and story better. This book covers many genres..... romance, suspense, mystery. What else could you want in a book?
LisaT
Jun 25, 2009
Good book
I had to read it for school. At first it seemed overwhelming but I became enthralled and enjoyed every moment of it. I would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys tongue in cheek humor and subtleness. Wilke Collins is an excellent writer.