Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

[dotinthesky]

Wilkie Collins, No Name, 1862
I can't remember the last time I read a novel as enjoyable as this one, a page-turner ground on strong characters and a thought-provoking theme. No Name tells the story of two sisters, Norah and Magdalen, who fall into poverty after they discover they have no claim on their parents' inheritance, thanks to a technicality in the will. The girls' entire estate is left to a distant, and greedy, uncle who decides to only give them 100 pounds from the estate. Norah, the eldest, accepts her fate and finds work as a governess in London. Magdalen, however, takes matters into her own hands and plots an intricate revenge on the uncle with the help of a con artist.

Wilkie Collins was a friend of Charles Dickens and this novel was published in its time as a serial, much like Dickens' work. Each chapter carries enough plot twists and cliffhangers to keep you interested on the story, as well as colourful characters - scoundrels, greedy rich men, scheming housekeepers - that are memorable and beg the question: why hasn't this been turned into a BBC series yet?!

Comments

[a1exxandra.livejournal.com]

I must read this - I was quite obsessed with Dickens and the 'Woman in White' when I was in 6th form but haven't read this kind of thing for ages!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I can't recommend it highly enough! It's over 700 pages and completely addictive from the start... it's a perfect holiday read.

[sushidog.livejournal.com]

I shall have to give it a go; I love The Mooonstone, and am generally very much in favour of that period of literature. Plus it would technically count as research... :-)

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I can't wait to read his other novels, in particular The Moonstone and The Woman in White. If they are as good as this one, I'm sorted this year for reading material!

[sbeth76.livejournal.com]

I loved this one too. I read it years ago. I can't wait until I start forgetting things and can re-enjoy past favorites as if they were new.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I imagine that his other novels are as lengthy as this one, and it will take a couple of decades before I'm done with them and able to get back to this one.

[geosh.livejournal.com]

Another great review! I love these. and now want to read the book....I hope it's not terribly long: endurance isn't generally a virtue of mine when coupled with long texts from different centuries...

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

It is quite long... over 700 pages! But every single one of them worthwhile - all killers, no fillers.

[desayuno-ingles.livejournal.com]

Sounds good, now I want to read it! I'm grinding through a re-read of Gone With The Wind, have you read it yet? If you'd like to I can bring it to you in February. Aram brought me two of the books or books by authors you recommended to me. So I've a ways to go.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Grinding through?! Doesn't sound too fun! Which books did Aram bring? I'm leaving my copy of No Name here so I can't, unfortunately, lend it to you in Feb, but i'm sure you can find a cheapy copy. It's one of those classics that you'll find in any second-hand store, and on discount in big bookstores.

[desayuno-ingles.livejournal.com]

There are no second hand stores in Spain! Well, maybe some. books are super expensive here.

He brought me:
Richard Russo, Bridge of Sighs
and your man Hollinghurst (The Line of Beauty)

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Nice! The Line of Beauty is really good. :-)

[desayuno-ingles.livejournal.com]

I look forward to starting it. The reason I'm "grinding through" GwtW is that I'd forgotten how annoying nearly every single person in the book is and how horribly slavery-affirming it is. Apparently Margaret Mitchell was strongly partisan and loved the south and what it had been.

[littlelamb.livejournal.com]

i LOVE wilkie collins. i agree, he's quite the master of the page turner! i always wondered why dickens became ~everlasting~ for being english victorian prototype and not wilkie collins. oh well!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

It could be that Dickens was more popular in his own time and cemented his name then. I found Collins style so much more approachable and enjoyable to read than Dickens!

[littlelamb.livejournal.com]

my victorian lit prof told me they were equally as popular. i guess a huge production shut down because the lead actor wouldn't perform because he ~just had to read~ the latest installment of the woman in white!

[mirple.livejournal.com]

give it time...it sounds ripe for a BBC adaptation x

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

It could be a series that runs for weeks and weeks.

[paulintoronto.livejournal.com]

I highly recommend Collins' Armadale. About five years ago, I went through a total Wilkie Collins craze and I think I am accurate in saying that I read all of his books.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I feel like going through a Wilkie craze too. ;-)

I'll keep my eyes open for Armadale. Cheers!