No name

Wilkie Collins, best know for "The Moonstone" (which I have read and loved) and "The Woman in White" (which I have not read yet) is at his best in "No Name". I do not compare it to the "Moonstone" for the "Moonstone" is a great mystery for which the reader must wait to the end for it to be revealed. "No Name" is not a mystery but one great chessmatch, that oddly enough is not played by Magdalen and Noel Vanstone. It is played by the wonderful character of Captain Wragge and Mrs. Lecount. Reading and seeing the game as it is played out is one great ride.

Although many, at the time the book was published, were shocked at the ending. I found it to be very good. It was shocking to those at the time that Wilkie would allow a woman who had done the things Magdalen had done to find happiness. As a reader, I was very much glad that she did find it (one litte bit of the ending revealed) for she deserved it (in my opinion).

In the beginning of the book, I came to very much like Magdalen and wished her success in her quest to regain her rightful inheritance - although I knew what she was doing was wrong. I also found that I very much liked Captain Wragge, for all of his "moral agriculturalism", he had a soft spot for Magdalen which came through in the story. For her part, Magdalen, trying her best to be unemotional and strong, kept her soft side when it came to Mrs. Wragge (even though she was her downfall).

All in all, this was a very good book that kept my interest through the 700 pages. For those of you that liked the "Moonstone" and the "Woman in White", "No Name" will no disappoint and I recommend it to anyone that enjoys Wilkie's style of writing.

P.S. I did not write too much about the story line for I did not want to give too much of it away.

4.5/5 stars

After the untimely death of their parents, the Vanstone sisters, Norah and Magdalen, face the stark reality of social stigma in Victorian England. Orphaned and penniless, they learn the devastating truth - they are illegitimate (children with "no name", hence the title of the book). And due to an anomaly in their father's will, the entirety of his wealth and estate is legally entailed away to their heartless uncle, who has no regard for their futures.

Vastly different in temperament, the elder sister, Norah calmly accepts her change in circumstance, resigned to accept work as a governess, while independent and scheming Magdalen refuses to accept the fate that their uncle has bestowed upon them and sets out on her own, vowing revenge.

To carry out her complex strategy of retribution, Magdalen enlists the assistance of the wily Captain Wragge, a distant relation and a self-confessed defrauder, who proves to be a comic relief with a tender humane heart at the core. Readers will be delighted to discover Wragge is just as memorable as many of Dickens' likable miscreants (not unlike Little Dorrit's Mr. Pancks).

Wragge and Magdalen face an uphill battle of wits, trying to outsmart the ruthlessly sharp Mrs. Lecount, the controlling and manipulative housekeeper of the will's beneficiary, Noel Vanstone. While Norah dutifully carries on with her life without incident, the intrepid Magdalen continues on with her quest for justice - at any expense - culminating in a surprise ending.

Perfectly plotted, though admittedly a tad bit slow at the outset, 'No Name' is a treat for any classics lover and is well worth the time invested in its 700+ pages. Highly recommended!

Wilkie Collins is known primarily for two novels: 'The Woman in White' and 'The Moonstone'. Both novels are indeed quite enjoyable. However I found them to be very different, and almost "unbalanced". 'The Woman in White' is a complex novel, a rollercoaster of plot-twists at a hysterical pace. On the other hand, 'The Moonstone' is a slow-paced mystery which moves towards a satisfying conclusion. 'No Name' fits nicely in between.
'No Name' is a story about how two sisters go on different paths on coming to terms with life after being mistreated by a cruel twist of fate, and being the victim of inhumane Victorian-era society (and its laws). The elder sister carries on without mishap, while the younger sister seeks justice at any expense ... to the extent of performing unethical and criminal activities herself. While seeking justice she encounters some rather equally cunning individuals (..another woman in particular), and the story unfolds into a battle of who can outfox whom. And it becomes abundantly clear that the person viewed initially as the victim is actually very cruel.
Finally, I have to recommend the Penguin Classic version of this novel for one simple reason: its cover is great. It is a painting of a young woman ("Miss Dene") who has such a sad, reflective expression on her face that one feels she is indeed the poor, suffering (yet malicious) younger sister Magdalen.

Magdalen is the rather spoiled young daughter of a country squire who seems to have a most normal life -- until her parents die, she finds that she and her sister are illegitimate, and she is completely deprived of her inheritance. While her sister sits patiently at home and endures trials of poverty as a governess, Magdalen sets out alone to regain her money from the hands of first a greedy uncle and then his equally greedy son. Populated with a cast of characters fit to equal any of Collins' more celebrated novels, No Name is at once a spellbinding tale of an resourceful and determined young woman's adventures, a deep perusal of her motives and morals, and an accurate portrayal of the Victorian society against which she rebells. I highly recommend it.

This book is much less known than its famous brothers, "The Woman in White" and "The Moonstone" (I have read them both). It was written between them, and I think it is a very worthy companion to the pair. Mr. Collins was the son of a well-known painter and you perceive his gifted eye for describing characters and environments. He also had a great talent for devising plots and producing very vivid, human and interesting characters. So, your reading enjoyment can be very rich and multidimensional. You can almost feel in the background the presence of the writer's very powerful mind behind the story, carefully describing very realistic scenes, with dashes of humor, irony and eccentricities, while keeping you keenly interested for almost 750 pages. Some of the characters and scenes in the book are gems, as the one of the rich and extreme miser, Mr. Noel Vanstone, in the agony of agreeing on the amount to inherit to his lifelong housekeeper, Mrs. Lacomte (who has been almost his mother). And this, while she is dictating to him the terms of his will ! Mrs. Wragge, his swindler husband, Magdalen and the Admiral are greatly portrayed. This is one of the few books that after finished, most probably will keep growing with you, and will keep its attraction in your memory for a long time. Mr. Collins's main works are so high-quality, that you'd be a much more selective reader afterwards. I would recommend also his "Armadale" (this I haven't read yet, but soon will).

Wilkie Collins holds a unique spot among the Victorian novelists. His intricate plots don't dawdle -- they move, with cliffhangers throughout. And, he has a remarkably clear writing style that makes his works almost as accessible as those of a modern thriller writer. "No Name" has both plots galore and clarity, along with deeper character sketches than "The Woman in White" and "The Moonstone". I rate it slightly below its more famous siblings because of a) the ending -- which was rather too contrived, even for Collins -- and b) a bit too much melodrama as Magdalen approaches her nuptials. To potential first time Collins readers, I recommend starting with "The Moonstone" and then moving to "The Woman in White". If you enjoy these, you should definitely proceed to "No Name".

When both of their parents die in close succession, Magdalene and Norah Vanstone are shocked to find themselves left with no inheritance, due to fact that their parents were not actually married at the time of their birth.

"No Name" is a good book, albeit a bit too long for my liking, but not a book that I would ever read again. Although I found it fascinating to learn of how illegitimate children were treated back in the 1800's (a topic that must have been close to Collins's heart, considering that he never married the mother of his children), this tale of a young woman's descent and torment at the hands of uncaring relatives, was just too depressing for my liking. Yes, it does have a happy ending, but having to wait over 700 pages to get to that ending wasn't much fun at all. I much preferred Collins's two, better known, works, "The Woman in White" and "The Moonstone".

A characteristically action-packed stroll through one of the serious social issues of the author's time: in this case, the consequences of illegitimacy. Written with a deft touch that lightens the seriousness of the text, and underscores the seriousness of the subtext. This is proper Victorian storytelling at its ALMOST best (Dickens will always occupy the top rung of that particular ladder).

I have enjoyed this book because of the story and because it takes place in the Victorian era, one of my favorite times in the past. Magdalen is a very interesting character and she takes matters into her own hands when she's unjustly disinherited. Captain Wragge is a lovable rogue. He's fun to read. I do wish he had treated his wife with more respect. This is a book to reread.

I really enjoy Wilkie Collins's books. I have not read them all (I hope to) so I am not an authority, by any means but I have read many and I was very impressed with this one, its my favorite so far.
The story is complex, exciting and the characters are very likable. It was a page turner for me. Lots of fun to read and an engrossing slice of human nature.
If you like an old fashion tale, that is fun too, this is a great choice. A great read for a cozy night in front of the fireplace.

Engrossing, densely textured read.
Could claim greatness on the basis of the Wragges and Madame alone, but also contains one of the most original heroines in Victorian fiction,and draws a fascinating portrait of venality, social corruption and hypocrisy -- at times, it reminded me of both 'Pere Goriot' and 'Les Miserables'.
And it's full of those little concrete details that make nineteenth century fiction so deliciously materialistic. Don't miss out on the Oriental Cashmere Robe!

I adore Wilkie Collins. This book surpasses his others, most of which are exciting, original, passionate, suspenseful and richly textured. If you read only one Collins, it should be this one. Magdalene is one of the most fascinating and compelling characters ever created, and Captain and Mrs. Wragge, Madame LeCompte and Noel Vanstone are nearly as intriguing. Obviously, I can't recommend it enough!

Wilkie Collins is one of my favorite authors. He combines memorable characters with twisted plots and suspensful situations. This story of two sisters disinherited by the strict Victorian laws is everything a reader could hope for.

Wilkie Collins does it again with this excellent piece. Two heiresses cast adrift after the untimely death of their Father due to archaic laws that leave them penniless despite the Father leaving them everything. One is resigned to her fate, the other resigned to avenging their slight. She resents having no name.

Good stuff.

I have found this book very interesting and found myself wondering when I put it down what secrets would be next or revealed ? This story is very heart felt and I am glad to have come across this story and read it !