Wilkie Collins
Wilkie Collins (January 8, 1824 - September 23, 1889) was an English novelist, credited with writing the first mystery.
Wilkie (William) Collins was born in London. His father (also called William) was a landscape painter, but it seems his father had ambitions for his son outside the arts. Wilkie was first found a place in the tea trade, but displayed no aptitude for commerce. He then studied law at Lincoln's Inn; he was admitted to the bar in 1851 but didn't prosper there either. It was only when he started writing that he seemed to find his vocation.
His first published work was written in memory of his father, who died in 1847. Memoirs of the Life of William Collins, Esq., R.A|. was published in 1848. His first novel was Antonina (1850), a historical romance with Basil in 1852. He found his true field, however, in the novel of modern life, in which his power lies chiefly in the construction of a skilful plot, which holds the attention of the reader and baffles his curiosity to the last. In Count Fosco, however, he has contributed an original character to English fiction.
In April 1852 Wilkie wrote a piece for Charles Dickens' weekly, Household Words. This marked the start of a professional relationship which was to last for ten years, and which left both men better writers for their acquaintance.
Wilkie was immensely popular in his time, and wrote 25 novels, over 50 short stories, 15 plays, and over 100 other, non-fiction, pieces of work. His most successful works were The Woman in White, No Name (1862), Armadale, and The Moonstone. He was one of the first writers of mystery fiction, and has been much imitated over the years. For example, you might recognise the basic premise of the Moonstone — a cursed jewel that was originally stolen from an idol's eye — in several contemporary films and novels. He also wrote After Dark (1856), The Dead Secret (1857), I say No (1884), and collaborated with Dickens in No Thoroughfare .
Wilkie Collins died in London in 1889 and was buried there in the Kensal Green Cemetery.
External link
- Project Gutenberg e-texts of some of Wilkie Collins's works (http://www.gutenberg.net/catalog/world/authrec?fk_authors=98)
de:Wilkie Collins [[he:וילקי קולינס]] it:Wilkie Collins
Categories: 1824 births | 1889 deaths | British writers