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!

[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... :-)

[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.

[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...

[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.

[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!

[mirple.livejournal.com]

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

[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.