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On Wilkie Collins

August 18, 2014 by Amy Welborn

For a long time, I’ve been searching for a really absorbing, can’t-put-it-down read, and several months ago, I finally found it, back in the 19th century:

No Name by Wilkie Collins.

I’d never read any Collins before, not even The Moonstone. I don’t remember the rabbit hole excursion that took me to this one, but the Amazon reviews were intriguing, so I splurged, spent $0.00, and was then occupied for weeks. 

I’m not sure how thick this book would be in dead tree edition, but it was long, and tedious only briefly, here and there. So I suppose since “brief” and “tedious” are antonyms..it wasn’t tedious at all?

For the most part, it was fascinating and quite absorbing, often contemporary in feel and entertaining.

INO NAMEt’s also an interesting social commentary on social class, morays, inheritance laws, marriage and gender relations in 19th century England.

In brief, No Name is the story of two young adult sisters whose parents die within days of each other, and because of a convoluted family situation only revealed at their deaths, lose what they thought would be their inheritance.  The story follows both sisters, in a way, although the center is really the younger sister, Magdalen, who goes to bizarre lengths to reclaim what she believes is rightfully hers, lengths which include a stint on the stage, many deceptions of various degrees, and interaction with a host of great characters, and of course, a few coincidences along the way.

There are some fantastic characters in this book, figures that upon first introduction may seem sterotypical, but which acquire depth and verisimilitude along the way (with all those words describing them…they’d better…).  There is a bit of melodrama and moralism in the conclusion, but it’s really just a touch, and is almost earned.

One of the most interesting elements of this book to me were chapters, interspersed between major sections, composed of only exchanges of letters or newspaper reports.  It’s a brisk, efficient way of moving the story along.

Here is a good synopsis and discussion of the book at Book Snob. 

Next up:  Armandale. 

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Posted in Amy Welborn, Book Reviews, Books, Michael Dubruiel, Reviews, Writing | Tagged Amy Welborn, Michael Dubruiel, Reading, Wilkie Collins |

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  • Today is the feast of St. Margaret Clitherow. Linked is a post on her, and attached are a couple of images -  from the entry on her from the Loyola Kids Book of Saints, and the others from her shrine in York, which I visited last summer: There is more than one kind of death, and there is more than one kind of tomb in which the dead parts of ourselves lie, dark and still. Jesus stands outside every one of those tombs. His power is stronger than the stone, stronger than any kind of death. He stands; he desires our freedom; and to each of us he calls, “Come out!   On Flannery O'Connor's 98th birthday, a post with photos of her home at @andalusiafarm  as well as links to much of what I've written about her over the years.  Images from the Loyola Kids Book of Catholic Signs and Symbols, the Loyola Kids Book of Bible Stories, and the new Loyola Kids Book of Seasons, Feasts and Celebrations related to the #Annuncation.  From my 2020 Book of Grace-Filled Days. It's the Feast of the Annunciation - a few pages from my books related to the feast.  Most are published by @LoyolaPress. For more: Me on a certain element of John Wick 4. You can...probably guess which one.  Some thoughts on #solotravel and the #emptynest which of course turns into a Big Ol' Metaphor... "...as I get older, my position in this body seems to be shifting. Sitting in the front speaks of a life centered on quieting, teaching, forming and directing, of a time of life when molding and shaping other people is your job and actually seems possible.

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