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The Moonstone

The Moonstone

ClassicsHistorical Fiction
Pages
606
Published
1868
Language
English

Synopsis

This classic mystery novel centers on the theft of the famed Moonstone diamond, a gem with a troubled past. When the jewel vanishes from an English country house on a young woman's birthday, a complex investigation unfolds, involving a diverse cast of characters and a web of secrets. It's a foundational work of detective fiction, exploring themes of greed, deception, and the pursuit of justice.

Prose complexity
7/10

Vibe

MysteriousTenseThought-ProvokingAtmospheric
HeistBetrayalMultiple POVsEpistolary

Genres

Classics Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Mystery Thriller Victorian Drama Crime Police Procedural Romance

About the author

W
Wilkie Collins

William Wilkie Collins (8 January 1824 – 23 September 1889) was an English novelist, playwright and short story writer best known for The Woman in White (1859) and The Moonstone (1868). The last has been called the first modern English detective novel. Born to the family of a painter, William Collins, in London, he grew up in Italy and France, learning French and Italian. He began work as a clerk for a tea merchant. After his first novel, Antonina, appeared in 1850, he met Charles Dickens, w...

Characters

Godfrey AblewhiteSupporting
Gabriel BetteredgeSupporting
Rosanna SpearmanSupporting
Drusilla ClackSupporting
Matthew BruffSupporting
All characters in The Moonstone

Frequently asked questions

  • How is the story told?

    The novel is constructed as a collection of individual narratives, diaries, and letters written by various characters who were involved in the events. This polyvocal structure means the reader must piece together the truth by comparing the subjective perspectives and limited knowledge of each narrator.

  • Are there any notable adaptations to watch?

    The story has been adapted for television multiple times, most notably by the BBC in 1959, 1972, 1996, and 2016. There is also a 1934 feature film adaptation produced by Monogram Pictures, though it significantly alters the setting and character details of the original text.

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