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A sharp-witted detective investigates the mystery of a gem, plundered from India and now vanished in England, and discovers shifting motives, unreliable testimony and growing danger in this foundational classic of mystery fiction.
The Moonstone justly occupies an exalted position as a groundbreaking novel that opened the way for a great deal of genre fiction, mysteries and thrillers, but it is far more than simply an influence upon later works. This is an epistolary novel with a number of diverse and clearly incised viewpoints, displaying the author's skill with both character and the unveiling of the elements of a mystery plot. One of the characters is the detective charged with finding the thief who stole the Moonstone, a huge diamond with a bloody history, and he is a clear precursor to A.C. Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. Another character, much remarked upon at the novel's original release, suffers from opium addiction, depicted with frightening clarity by Collins, who dealt with that issue firsthand. The plot is sensational but relayed realistically and builds to one of the most unusual plot twists in mystery literature, made all the more remarkable by virtue of appearing in the genre's earliest days. Initially serialized in Charles Dickens magazine All The Year Round, The Moonstone was published in 1868 and has never been out of print since.
With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Moonstone is both modern and readable.
About the author
Born in London in 1824, Wilkie Collins was the son of landscape painter William Collins and his wife, Harriet Geddes. His early exposure to art and culture, including time spent in Italy and France, influenced his literary pursuits. Initially working as a tea merchant, Collins eventually turned to writing, publishing his first novel, Antonina, in 1850.Collins's friendship with Charles Dickens, whom he met in 1851, significantly impacted his career. Dickens became both a mentor and collaborator, with Collins contributing to Dickens's journals and co-writing plays. During the 1860s, Collins achieved fame with novels like The Woman in White and The Moonstone, the latter often regarded as the first modern detective novel.Despite his literary success, Collins faced personal challenges, including health issues that led to laudanum addiction. He maintained unconventional relationships with two women, Caroline Graves and Martha Rudd, fathering three children with Rudd. Collins continued to write until his death in 1889, leaving a lasting legacy in the mystery and detective genres.
