Agreed. I think the detective novel as it evolved got leaner, discarding things that weren't driving towards denouement and caring less about character. The Moonstone gives itself room to explore character with a more Dickensian playfulness.
Great to see you! Looking forward to your thoughts on the new Rooney. I still feel compelled to try her, though I haven’t loved or even liked the two books of hers that I have read.
I too read Wilkie Collins The Moonstone recently and really loved it. My first Collins.....wont be my last. So enjoyable and I thought wonderfully and somewhat surprisingly contemporary in its language . I have been telling everyone I know to read it. By the way your channel is really great. P.S. I do have rhythm. Cheers. Paul
I absolutely loved Trollope's Autobiography! One of the few books in which an author's kitchen table presence is conveyed! He strikes me as an ostensibly bungling fool with a few snide remarks in his armory also!
The Moonstone was a really good time. I didn’t always know what was going on but really enjoyed the characters, especially Betteredge.
Agreed. I think the detective novel as it evolved got leaner, discarding things that weren't driving towards denouement and caring less about character. The Moonstone gives itself room to explore character with a more Dickensian playfulness.
Great to see you! Looking forward to your thoughts on the new Rooney. I still feel compelled to try her, though I haven’t loved or even liked the two books of hers that I have read.
I've blown hot and cold on her work, but this has had such great reviews that I felt compelled to give it a go. I'll report back when I'm done.
I too read Wilkie Collins The Moonstone recently and really loved it. My first Collins.....wont be my last. So enjoyable and I thought wonderfully and somewhat surprisingly contemporary in its language . I have been telling everyone I know to read it. By the way your channel is really great. P.S. I do have rhythm. Cheers. Paul
Thanks Paul. I agree about the language in The Moonstone. It's one of the least Victorian-y reads of the Victorians I have read.
I've got a second edition of the Moonstone, three vols in the original publisher's cloth. Gorgeous! 😘
Ooh how fabulous.
@@GuiltyFeat 😄The first is somewhat out of my reach... The last one in the cloth, sold for 6500 pounds, in 2023, at Dom. Wint. Aucs.
I’ve read The Moonstone and The Woman in White, but that’s it so can’t give any other suggestion for your next Collins. I hope you are well!
All well here, thanks. I think The Woman in White is the obvious next choice.
I absolutely loved Trollope's Autobiography! One of the few books in which an author's kitchen table presence is conveyed! He strikes me as an ostensibly bungling fool with a few snide remarks in his armory also!
"an ostensibly bungling fool with a few snide remarks in his armory" was my original choice for naming my UA-cam channel, but it was already taken.
Did you know that he wrote a history of Cicero ? Pretty good actually.
I think he mentions in in the autobiography, but I know so little about Cicero so I don't know if it would be the best place to start.
I think The Woman in White is the other novel most people think of when they think of Collins?
I would agree with that. And the superior novel of the two in my view. But so glad you enjoyed this, Daniel!
Thank you both. It seems to be the way to go.