Name: The Woman in White
Author: Wilkie Collins
ISBN: 9780194632317

The Woman in White

Wilkie Collins

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Author Description

A level 6 Oxford Bookworms Library graded reader. This version includes an audio book: listen to the story as you read.Retold for Learners of English by Richard G. Lewis.The woman in white first appears at night on a lonely heath near London and is next seen at a grave-side in Cumberland. Who is she? Where has she come from, and what is her history? She seems alone and friendless, frightened and confused. And it seems she knows a secret – a secret that could bring ruin and shame to a man who will do anything to keep her silent.This famous mystery thriller by Wilkie Collins has excitement, suspense, romance, and a plot that twists and turns on every page.

Menrva's Summary

THE PULSE

A mysterious encounter on a lonely heath sets off a complex chain of events involving hidden identities and dangerous secrets. The protagonist, Walter Hartright, becomes entangled in the lives of two sisters and a spectral woman in white who appears to hold the key to a dark conspiracy. As Hartright attempts to uncover the truth, he faces opposition from powerful, manipulative figures who will stop at nothing to protect their reputations. The narrative unfolds through a series of testimonies and documents, creating a multi-layered perspective on the unfolding mystery.

INSIDE THE PAGES

Epistolary narrative structure using multiple character perspectives
Gothic atmosphere set in isolated English landscapes
Central mystery revolving around identity and inheritance
Antagonists driven by greed and social preservation
Pacing characterized by slow-burn tension and sudden revelations
Themes of mental health and institutional power
Romantic subplots that complicate the primary investigation
Graded language adaptation for English learners

THE COLLECTIVE ECHO

Readers frequently highlight the effectiveness of the multi-perspective narrative in building suspense throughout the story. Discussion often centers on the atmospheric tension created by the titular character's appearances and the subsequent investigation. Critics note that the plot remains engaging despite the simplified language used in this specific edition. The balance between the romantic elements and the darker thriller aspects provides a consistent momentum that keeps the reader focused on the resolution of the central mystery.

Page Count:
120

Publication Date:
2014-09-30

Publisher:
Oxford University Press

ISBN-10:
0194632318

ISBN-13:
9780194632317

Thriller

Romance

Mystery

ESOL

English as a Second Language

English & College Success

Study Aids