Books by Wilkie Collins

This lighthearted, fast-paced tale, originally published in 1856, recounts a loveable rascal's attempts at forgery, his romance with a counterfeiter's daughter, and his role in an unconventional inheritance.

Enken efter en sydamerikansk revolutionær, madam Pratolungo – bogens fortæller – bliver selskabsdame for en ung, blind pige, Lucilla Finch, en datter af præsten i et afsidesliggende sogn i Sussex. Da den vege, tilbageholdende Oscar Dubourg kommer til sognet, forelsker Lucilla sig i ham - og han i hende. De to beslutter at gifte sig, da Oscar bliver slået ned af et par røvere, og selv om han snart kommer sig efter slaget, udvikler han en art epilepsi, der kun kan helbredes ved behandling med "helvedessten" - sølvnitrat - der har den bivirkning at farve huden mørkeblå.Efter at have bortødet sin formue ankommer Oscars tvillingbroder, Nugent, fra Amerika. Han har der stiftet bekendtskab med en tysk øjenlæge, som måske kan helbrede Lucillas blindhed. Men Lucilla skræmmes af mørke farver, og da det viser sig, at Lucilla vil få sit syn tilbage, tør Oscar ikke fortælle hende om sin mørke hudfarve, men flygter fra England og overlader Lucilla til Nugent, der også er forelsket i hende.Det bliver nu op til madam Pratolungo at forsøge at redde Lucilla og Oscar fra Nugents intriger.Wilkie Collins beskæftigede sig i mange af sine fortællinger med fysiske og psykiske handicaps og den påvirkning, disse handicap øvede på hans personer og deres omgivelser. Hans beskrivelse af Lucillas blindhed og den proces, hun gennemgår, skulle være temmelig præcis og virkelighedsnær, og flere af hans samtidige læsere skrev til ham for at få nærmere oplysninger om bogens tyske øjenlæge. Man skal dog næppe i dag læse Stakkels miss Finch for dens medicinske detaljer, men nok så meget for det psykologiske spil, der går for sig mellem Lucilla, Oscar og Nugent - den sidstnævnte en psykopat i fuld blomst.

Combines the traditional tale of Mother Goose with spirited songs and dances (to be chosen by the director). Plenty of opportunity for audience participation, led by irascible Billy, Mother Goose''s son. Fun packed action centers on the wicked squire''s bailiffs and Priscilla, the Magical Goose, instantly endears herself to all. And Fairy Harmony succeeds in helping good overcome evil and happiness prevails once more.|5 women, 6 men

The Moonstone (1868) is generally considered to be the first detective novel in the English language and also one of the best detective stories of all time. Rachel Verinder, a young woman, inherits a large Indian diamond on her eighteenth birthday. It is a legacy from her uncle, a corrupt army officer who served in India. The diamond is of great religious significance as well as being extremely valuable and three Hindu priests have dedicated their lives to recovering it. Rachel's birthday is celebrated with a large party, whose guests include her cousin Franklin Blake. She wears the Moonstone on her dress that evening for all to see, including some Indian jugglers who have called at the house. That night, the diamond is stolen from Rachel's bedroom, and a period of turmoil, unhappiness, misunderstandings and ill-luck ensues. Told by a series of narratives from some of the main characters, the complex plot traces the subsequent efforts to identify the thief, trace the stone and maybe recover it.

Wilkie Collins was an English novelist, poet, and playwright writing in the mid 19th century. His was very popular; writing 27 novels, 50 short stories, 15 plays and over 100 poems. His best-known works were The Woman in White, The Moonstone and Armadale. In The Legacy of Cain a woman has been condemned for the murder of her husband and she is unrepentant. She asks the minister to take her daughter home. Since the minister is childless he is grateful for this blessing. Will the vices of this woman be passed on to her seemingly sweet daughter?