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The Woman in White

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The Woman in White

By: Wilkie Collins
Narrated by: Ian Holm
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About this listen

Exclusively from Audible

Late one moonlit night, Walter Hartright encounters a solitary and terrified woman dressed all in white. He saves her from capture by her pursuers and determines to solve the mystery of her distress and terror.

Inspired by an actual criminal case, this gripping tale of murder, intrigue, madness and mistaken identity has never been out of print since its publication and brought Collins great fame and success. Considered to be among the first mystery novels and the first and finest in the genre of 'sensation novels', The Woman in White is noted for its suspenseful plot and unique characterisation.

Collins's use of multiple narrators drew on his legal training and he states 'the story of an offence against the laws is told in Court by more than one witness'.

In 2003, Robert McCrum writing for The Observer ranked The Woman in White number 23 in the top 100 greatest novels of all time. The novel was also listed at number 77 on the BBC's survey The Big Read.

Charles Dickens was a close friend and mentor of Collins, and the two collaborated together on drama and fiction. The Woman in White, as well as some of his other work, was first published in Dickens' journals.

Narrator Biography

Sir Ian Holm, is a star of the Royal Shakespeare Company, who has played more than 100 roles in films and on television, whilst receiving a stream of awards and nominations. His television debut came as Richard III on the BBC's filmed theatrical production The Wars of the Roses (1965). One of his best-known roles is Sam Mussabini in Chariots of Fire (1981). He has also starred in The Fifth Element (1997), From Hell (2001), The Aviator (2004) and as Bilbo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films. He has provided voice-overs for many television documentaries including 1066: The Battle for Middle Earth (2009), starred in the BBC's The Lord of the Rings radio dramatisations and narrated many audiobooks. In 1989 he was appointed CBE and in 1998 was knighted for his services to drama.

Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc.
Classics Ghosts Literary Fiction Mystery Psychological Scary Fiction Exciting Haunted

What listeners say about The Woman in White

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most enjoyable

I loved listening to this book. The narrator was excellent. The story was intriguing and very entertaining. I found it to be a great listen!

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A wonderful tale, read by one of the best

This is a fine narration, by the late, great Ian Holm, of one of Victorian literature's all-encompassing stories. Wilkie Collins takes the reader on a complex and characterful journey, which also features some wonderfully dark comedy in both the writing and performance of the enervating and exasperating Frederick Fairlie.

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Ageless !!

Approaching with scepticism for a Victorian novel, amazingly surprised. Cracking story which had aged amazingly well.

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Superb

What an amazing journey filled with interesting plot, fun twists, genre bending gothic and detective motifs, and some cracking characters in Marion and the memorable Count Fosco.

And a truly excellent narration.

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Brilliant.

My introduction toWilkie Collins has been an absolute revelation. Perfectly written and narrated I can’t be left with any impression other than this novel is the genesis of all other psychological crime fiction I’ve ever read or seen portrayed on film.

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love this book

If you like a long listen this audio is fantastic with perfect narration, mystery and intrigue set with old English setting. I loved this story. throughout I thought I had the mystery solved but was proven wrong in the end with the surprising results.
listen for yourself.

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Wonderful narrator

I thought I wouldn’t persevere with it at first but quickly got hooked and enjoyed it to the end. Excellent plot.

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Classic Wilkie Collins!

I read The Woman in White years ago, on the recommendation of a friend who shares my enjoyment of classic Victoriana.
On experiencing this work again, in Audible format, I am struck by 2 points:
-despite some of the tedious, inevitable cultural differences between the 19th century and the 21st century which pervade Collins' works, at his best, he often writes/wrote in a refreshing, almost contemporary tone;
- Ian Holm's narration is BRILLIANT! Seamless, smooth, elegant, perfect performance. Alas for our loss of this marvelous actor, narrator, hobbit (Bilbo Baggins), consumate artist - Holm's narration MADE this experience for me. Highly recommended for that aspect alone.

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Victorian Gothic by brilliant narrator

A haunting Victorian thriller that I can’t believe I didn’t read in my teen goth phase. The story is a page turner, and Sir Ian Holm is absolutely brilliant as the narrator.

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Excellent, suspenseful mystery and great narration

Kept my interest throughout. Ian Holm is an accomplished narrator and the narrative is a wonderful mystery.

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