The Woman in White

The Woman in White is a novel by Wilkie Collins, first published in 1859. Widely regarded as one of the earliest and most influential Victorian sensation novels, it blends mystery, Gothic suspense, and psychological drama into a gripping narrative that helped redefine popular fiction in the nineteenth century.

The story begins when drawing master Walter Hartright encounters a mysterious, distressed woman dressed entirely in white on a moonlit London road. This unsettling meeting draws him into a complex web of secrets, hidden identities, and moral danger that centres on two half-sisters: the gentle, vulnerable heiress Laura Fairlie and the fiercely intelligent Marian Halcombe. As Laura’s marriage to the enigmatic Sir Percival Glyde unfolds, disturbing questions arise about deception, inheritance, and personal freedom.

Told through a series of interconnected first-person accounts, the novel gradually reveals the schemes of its unforgettable antagonists, including the smooth and sinister Count Fosco. As legal manipulation, psychological control, and stolen identities come into play, Walter and Marian race against time to uncover the truth and restore justice before the conspiracy becomes irreversible.

With its layered narration, mounting tension, and strong female characters, The Woman in White remains a defining work of Victorian Gothic fiction.