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The Moonstone (Dover Thrift Editions) |
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Author:
Wilkie Collins
By Dover Publications
Average Customer Rating:  
List Price: $4.50
Our Price: $2.85
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Product Description
Stolen from the forehead of a Hindu idol, the dazzling gem known as "The Moonstone" resurfaces at a birthday party in an English country home--with an enigmatic trio of watchful Brahmins hot on its trail. Laced with superstitions, suspicion, humor, and romance, this 1868 mystery draws readers into a compelling tale with twists and turns ranging from sleepwalking to experimentation with opium. The suspense and drama is heightened as the narrative passes from one colorful character to the next. Wilkie Collins' masterpiece is particularly distinguished by the appearance of Sergeant Cuff, a prototype of the English detective hero and the harbinger of a popular tradition of sleuthing.
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 "Whatever happens in a house, robbery or murder, it doesn't matter, you must have your breakfast.", 2008-01-30
From the outset, Wilkie Collins's 1868 "sensation novel" keeps the reader entertained and engaged as a priceless yellow diamond, stolen from a Hindu religious statue of the Moon God in India in 1799, works its black magic and controls the action. Rachel Verinder, heir of Colonel John Herncastle, who murdered to obtain the jewel during the battle of Seringapatam, inherits this possibly cursed treasure on her eighteenth birthday in 1848, only to have it vanish before she can put it into the bank. Drawing on sensational details--three Indian "jugglers" who approach the house to perform a juggling act, the disappearance of the jewel from an Indian cabinet during the night, the certainty that the theft was an inside job, a housemaid with a criminal past, and a paint smudge on night clothing--Collins creates a haunting atmosphere and builds suspense.
Telling the story is Gabriel Betteredge, the house steward, a man who has been asked to set down his recollections by Franklin Blake, who was present in the house at the time of the jewel's disappearance, and who is in love with Rachel Verinder. Betteredge is a delightful story-teller, providing details, humor, and suggestions about what happened with a conscientiousness that makes him a reliable narrator. As the story becomes more involved and the characters take on lives of their own, other narrators take up the story where Betteredge leaves off and provide new information.
The second narrator, Miss Drusilla Clack, Rachel Verinder's cousin, is a "poor relation" who is also a religious fanatic, and her commentary and her behavior provide some of the funniest moments in Victorian literature. Collins's use of humor, in fact, is one of the ways in which he surpasses his friend, Charles Dickens, in keeping an audience entertained. Franklin Blake, rejected by Rachel, provides additional commentary about the events, as do a doctor and his assistant, a local police sergeant and his investigator, the family lawyer, and a traveler to India. The use of multiple points of view is one of the great advances Collins makes in the history of the novel. The fact that this is widely regarded as the first of the great mystery novels (though not dependent on a single detective) is another plus.
Overall, the novel is surprisingly modern in its ability to appeal to a wide audience. Collins is adept at manipulating his readership and in keeping suspense high. His characters are often engaging and frequently humorous, and in its ability to deal with social issues of the day, the novel provides pertinent commentary about colonialism, religious fanaticism, and class issues. Collins never forgets, however, that he is writing to entertain, and in this he succeeds admirably. n Mary Whipple
The Woman in White (musical tie-in) (Penguin Summer Classics)
The first detective novel, 2007-01-11
THE MOONSTONE opens with the theft of a fabulous jewel from an idol in India. From this exotic location the action then goes forward in time many years to the English countryside. The jewel, the Moonstone, has become a family heirloom soon to be presented to a young woman as a birthday present. That very evening the Moonstone disappeared leaving behind suspicion and tragedy. A professional detective is called in but before all is revealed there will be deaths and long hidden secrets brought to light.
The story was originally published in the mid 1800's which can cause a problem for a modern reader. The style of writing is much more verbose than contemporary readers are accustomed to, the vocabulary is often unfamiliar but perhaps most difficult for the modern reader are the conventions of mid Victorian society. The class distinctions and the restrictions placed on women, particularly young, unmarried women are completely foreign to the 21st century.
Despite these challenges THE MOONSTONE is an excellent story on its own merits. The characters are interesting and believeable. The plot is well thought out, full of twists and turns that will keep the reader guessing until the very end. For fans of detective fiction it is interesting to see the various elements of this story and recognize them from their more modern forms.
THE MOONSTONE has been called the first detective novel. It introduced many of the characteristics familiar to fans of this genre, the outsider, professional detective, the bumbling, incompetant local police, the clueless sidekick, the red herring clues that lead the reader astray and the premise that all clues must be available for the reader to solve the crime. In that regard THE MOONSTONE has its own unique place in history no matter what the quality of the story itself might be.
Delightful reading!, 2006-08-29
The Moonstone is chock-full of everything a Victorian novel should have: vivid and colorful characters, intricate language, elaborate plots, and bizarre coincidences. The insight into Victorian ideas about race, class and gender alone gives it tremendous value and merit.
This book simply shouldn't be read with modern expectations. Just sit back and let the story take you back to a different time and place. This edition with the explanatory notes is also very nice for any outmoded terms that you may come across.
Amazing! , 2006-04-12
This is really a simple detective story that has been written in a likable manner. Three main protagonists tell the tale of the stolen diamond. Among the three the narrative of Miss Clack is quite enjoyable.
This book pokes fun at religious fanaticism, sycophancy and stratified social norms of Victorian England.
But what attracted me was the way Indian Characters are treated by the writer. Absence of condescension and racial bigotry marks the writer's sympathetic viewpoint of the Indian Characters and even rationalizes their murder of the perpetrator. One is then surprised to note that this novel is way ahead of it's time, as Indians characters are still either patronized or vilified albeit couched in innuendoes.
Though not exactly in the league of the great classics it is undeniably exquisite piece of work! The writer was a great friend of Dickens - who I believe mistreated him and as a result Collins was often depressed. That could well mean that Dickens was jealous of Collins and rightly so. Except for Tale of Two Cities, Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby, I find Dickens' writing boring and unnecessarily convoluted. For instance, one does have a hard time reading Hard Times, especially considering that Emile Zola had taken the same subject in Germinal and made it interesting and a delight to read.
An Oldie but a Goldie!, 2005-08-23
This is the original murder mystery novel. It predates other mystery/crime giants such as Agatha Chrisite and Dorothy Sayers. I can understand that for someone used to today's style of writing, this book may seem a bit old fashioned, but it pays to remember that it was written in the late 1800s and is one of the reasons why this genre of novels is so popular today. I enjoyed it immensely and would recommend it to all murder mystery fans.
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.8
EAN: 9780486424514
ISBN: 0486424510
Label: Dover Publications
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 427
Publication Date: 2002-10-29
Publisher: Dover Publications
Studio: Dover Publications |
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