Placing Italian intrigue within the story of 'The Woman In White' was an inspired means to make the book contemporary, even if now it might for some date it. In 1859 the British public could through the book learn something of solemn rites of such secret institutions as were capable of overthrowing established government by revolutionary means. In this context it is all the more remarkable that Albert, The Prince Consort, who was both a foreigner and no stranger to politics should have so recommended the work.

If Collins' treatment of 'foreigners' seems at times jingoistic maybe you might excuse him? Given the times in which he is writing to give English people the motives and means of the Italians in the book would have been tantamount to treason. The story is set some ten years prior to the date of publication. The Great Exhibition is about to take place, and it is for this reason that foreigners are commonplace in London. Many of the readers of 'The Woman In White' would have experienced London during this period at first hand. Others would have felt some national pride at the Exhibition even if they did not experience it at first hand. For foreigners, (but not revolutionaries), to be sullying the mystique of this extraordinary event through their evil doings could only have further added to credibility to the story as Victorian readers united against them.

One of the unspoken heroes of the story must be the railway system? Today we take for granted the ability to traverse countries, or even continents by car, train, or plane. But in 1860 the British national railway system was still much under development. The ability for Gilmore, Fosco and Hartright to travel so easily was only possible because of the great revolution of steam that shaped Victorian England, and made The Great Exhibition of 1851 a possibility. It is true that Collins doesn't dwell on the details of railway travel, but one should not underestimate the power of placing the reader in the carriage of a steam train through identification with one of the characters as one of the story's original attractions. It must have been like reading a story set on a space station to the book's contemporary readers.

The legal thriller is a hybrid. It blends elements of society, drama and comedy and somehow makes them believable. That Wilkie Collins should achieve this and also write more eloquently than for example, Raymond Chandler, or Jack Higgins is a mark of his ability. Collins, (and Dickens), believed that popular writing would also be informed, and well-formed. Their works predated Hemingway, and those who favour shorter sentences that smack of populist journalism. Collins cared not a jot for the reading age of those who read his stories. He even eschewed punctuating his chapters for the benefit of serialization. Chapters broke in the middle of one edition of 'All The Year Round', and new ones began only to be sliced until the next edition hit the news-stands.

The Woman In White was written nearly 150 years ago. Yet in many ways it remains up-to-date. Even today people worry about social convention. How to make a good marriage. In some parts of our society marriages are arranged by elders. Swindles, embezzlement, impersonation and identity theft are no less commonp now than in during the Victorian era. Lawyers continue to pontificate about the correct means to achieving ends, whilst the Mafia has its own code for conducting business.

No wonder this classic 'sensation novel' continues to be studied, debated, and features on the syllabi of courses as diverse as English Literature, Law, Women's Studies, Writing Skills, and Victorian Social History.

Kindly note: The opinions expressed here are entirely my own, but were made following the established academic method of thoroughly researching what others have written, and of course reading the book a few times. My forensic experience in the Royal Courts of Justice helped considerably in the preparation of this document. Also studies at The University of London, Institute of Psychiatry and elsewhere helped in my understanding of Collins systematic use of character substitution. For my knowledge of Giuseppe Garibaldi I am grateful to Miss Mercy Charity Hart M.A., Head of History, Blandford Grammar School who would bribe each of us pupils with 3d, (three old pence), if we remembered anything at all!

You are most welcome to quote this criticism. If you do so however please use the following form:
Stephen Bray (2005) Collins Woman In White Criticism. Internet Retrieval from www.thewomaninwhite.info