David Grigg's comments are marked [DG]

Matthew Christensen(6 Aug 2002) wrote:

Thanks for such a wonderful site! I wish more people would read Collins. I am writing because for some time now, I have been e-mailing both the BBC as well as Acorn Media (they release several BBC shows on video and dvd. See www.acornmedia.com)in an effort to get them to release the 1982 version of "The Woman in White" on dvd or video. I've generally gotten kind responses, but no definite answer as to whether they will or not, or even if such a deal is in negotiation.

I wonder if we were able to get other Collins fans to e-mail these companies, it might make them sit up and notice and get something in the works. I thought your website might be a suitable forum to get the word out.

Let me know what you think. -- Matthew Christensen

Erica A Corbett(12 Oct 1999) wrote:

Hello! I just sort of "stumbled" across your page (grading papers in my office, bored, wanted to do something else. And no, I'm not a literature teacher. I'm a biologist.)

I saw a little of the most recent BBC adaptation of "The Woman in White" on its first run (ummm...1997?) I only saw about an hour or so in the middle, got hooked, found the book, and devoured it. I loved the novel and plan to read more Collins (my next will be The Dead Secret...I don't get much time to read literature). Anyway, when they rebroadcast "The Woman in White", I eagerly awaited it. Wow, what a disappointment once you've read the book. I kept asking "Where's Pesca?" and waiting for Fosco to get his. And I didn't like the little slip in there about sex and child abuse. I found myself thumbing through The Woman in White for the reference (where Laura makes some kind of comment like "I didn't know a man could enjoy "it" so much while being so brutal about "it"" and wondering how the Victorian censors let that through. Naturally they didn't - it wasn't in the book.

Is this sort of thing common to the recent adaptations of "great novels"? I'm currently reading Eliot's "Middlemarch" and was tempted to pop for the videos of the production of it, but on further consideration, I'm afraid of the alterations that may have been made to THAT.

Are there any plans for any channels (cable or PBS) in the U.S. to rebroadcast the earlier, 5-part (and presumably more faithful) version of "The WOman in White"?

Thanks, Erica

I can't inform you of any plans to show this anywhere (I live in Australia, by the way), but you could contact the BBC or your local public broadcasting service and demand its return!

Timothy Sprigge(05 Oct 1999) wrote:

I have just been looking into your Wilkie Collins website. I have been a Wilkie Collins enthusiast since my teenage days when I first read No Name. (I am now 67.) I think this the best of his novels, as, I seem to remember, so did Dickens.

One of his most daring themes is that of sadistic sexuality (and I am afraid possible forms of frustrated sexuality might take for people with certain sorts of handicap) in the character of Misserimus Dexter in The Law and the Lady.

I also appreciate his anti-vivisectionism as expressed in Heart and Science, though except for a few high spots that is not one of his better novels.

C.Lissner(04 Sep 1999) wrote:

Lydia Gwilt is God. All of the hypocritical 19th cent. outcry against Collins for creating such a "horrendous" character was just envy and unrequited lust for the seductive red-head. The rest of the characters (except for Oldershaw and Dr. Downward) are simps and undeserving of Gwilt -- the smartest, funniest, most modern (she could deflate any contemporary pseudo-intellectual) woman Collins ever created. Since I've insufficient funds to do justice to this poppy-induced masterpiece on Film (No, NOT TV, that won't do), perhaps I'll get a Lydia Gwilt website together and chat with myself.

Sue Flynn(17 Aug 1999) wrote:

Dear David:

I just had to write about an exciting phone call I received from a friend of mine who lives next to our cottage, near Lindsay, Ontario. She knows my passion for Wilkie Collins, and while browsing through a flea market just north of us came across a set of his books, hard cover. Although they are not in mint condition, they are not exactly falling apart too seriously either. I have a number of his books, which I have purchased over the past few years, but there were many I did not have, such as Antonina, The Black Robe, Heart & Science. The bonus is I got 23 books for $34.50 (Canadian). I had just purchased The Evil Genius for $15.95 at the World's Biggest Bookstore downtown and there it was for $1.50. Unfortunately, I cannot find a published date in the front (or back) of any of the books, but nonetheless I am very pleased with my purchase. I also purchase Iolani which has come out in a hard cover edition.

I was in St. Jacob's, Ontario a few months ago, and one of the bookstores there had a 2nd printing of The Moonstone, with some interesting drawings in it. The price of that particular edition was $20.00 Canadian and the book itself was in very good condition.

I do not purchase many books as I have limited space, but I can always seem to find room for Wilkie Collins.

I enjoy your web page and the comments received from other Wilkie Collins admirers.

Best regards,

Sue Flynn
home e-mail (rsimpson@ican.net)

Jacqueline Curtiss (14 Jun 1998) wrote:

Love the idea of the Wilkie Collins website.

I was fortunate enough to get my Masters at Houston Baptist University a few years back. Their library is somewhat lamentable in some areas . . . but they are lucky enough to have a wonderful "angel" who has donated a marvelous collection of Victoriana, mainly devoted to Wilkie Collins.

I have been a Wilkie fan since reading MOONSTONE as a child, but having access to all his works has been a privilege. Recently I read NO NAME and loved Magdelane Vanstone and her plans to regain the family fortune. As you mention someplace in your comments, it is wonderful how Collins manages to skirt around the "sex issue" but you always know what he means. Imagine Dickens having a woman marry a man (or a wimp in this case!) for the sole purpose of revenge and monetary gain (however just the motive might be!) Although Trollope might have also ventured here in his Palliser series when Laura marries "properly" instead of our penniless hero.

I did quite a study of HAUNTED HOTEL during my grad days and although a slim volume, found much meat in there as far as feminine characters. Wilkie has been a great boon to modern scholars looking for feminist themes in Victorian literature.

Keep up the good work!

Jacqueline Curtiss JRauscherC@aol.com

Steve Coates (14 Jun 1998) wrote:

Sorry for the intrusion but I wonder if you might be able to help me.

I'm trying to find out which novelist it was who, writing in "All the Year Round", first wrote of how much courage it would take to spend a night in the chamber of horrors at Madame Tussaud's, and thus propagated the myth that there is an ongoing challenge (and wager) to anyone prepared to do so. I don't THINK that it was Dickens himself, so my next guess would be Wilkie Collins - if not him then I'm stuck! Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated.

Steve Coates High School teacher, London, England (Steve99366@aol.com)

Erica Bondente(12 Jun 1998) wrote:

Dear David, I am an Italian student and I have just seen your wonderful Wilkie Collins web site. It is just great!

I discovered just about one month ago how incredible Internet is and I must also say that I was very impressed by the way you have created your web site. It is really interesting and above all everything is so fast with Internet!

Anyway I DO LOVE ( maybe prefer!) BOOKS!!! especially Collins' ones! I also discovered him about one month ago thanks to ... Joseph Sheridan LeFanu! I read his 'Uncle Silas' and I was about to begin my University thesis about it. Then I read a critic about a possible connection between this novel and The woman in White. Well, my thesis subject has now changed!

I am also attending a course at the University (I am studying in Germany at the moment) about Poe and Doyle and I will probably write about The moonstone in connection with some Doyle's stories. I just read these two Collins' novels and I found them really good: I love his narrative techniques, his characters (Fosco and Marian are great!) and plots, that are never boring!

I hope I will be able to know more and more about Collins and above all to be able to write a good thesis. I would love to analize the females figures in The woman in white first of all. But I think there are so many interesting aspects in his novel!

Well, I have to go now because I am writing from My university and many people are waiting! I will of course visit your web site again and also hope to hear from you. I find the idea of writing email from people is so GOOD! Thank you for reading my message!

Ciao, a presto Erica Bondente

Philippe Gindre(20 May 1998) wrote:

I have just discovered your web site dedicated to Wilkie Collins. I find it astonishingly complete and attractive. Congratulations!

I am a member of a French non-profit literary society called La Clef d'Argent (The Silver Key) and we reprinted E.D. Forgue's translation of Mad Monkton, a few years ago. It is still in print: .

Our web site also includes bio-bibliographical notes by the late French specialist Gerard Coisne: .

Yours, Philippe Gindre La Clef d'Argent (The Silver Key)
Weird Fiction in French Language & Lovecraftian Art

Bruce Kermane(15 Apr 1998) wrote:

Thanks for putting the quite informative Wilkie Collins site on the Internet for me to find it and become further acquainted with this previously unknown author --unknown to me of course.

I became aware of him after having watched a recent BBC broadcast of The Woman in White; I assume it was a recent one, though you note that there might be a 1980's production as well--or is it the same one.

Anyway, I shall be reading him and will soon get a chance to see Basil, the movie. What do you think of the movie?

Regards Bruce Kermane

Linda Patten (01 Feb 1998) wrote:

Been enjoying your Wilkie Collins web site for some time now. Lot's of information.

My first Collins book has the Moonstone which was very good. Then I read The Woman In White which I found to be one of the best books I,ve ever read. Wanting more I next read No Name, Man and Wife, The Lady and The Law, Basil, The Dead Secret, Poor Miss Finch, Armadale, and The Haunted Hotel. I'm in the process right now of reading Hide and Seek. I have enjoyed every one of these books. Still wanting more even though I know his later novels are not as good, I'd like to still try a few. Our Borders bookstore has Heart and Science and The Evil Genius, so I may pick up one of the two. What is it that makes Collins later novels unreadable or I guess I should say not that good?

I see that Collins dedicated Hide and Seek to his friend Charles Dickens. Did Dickens ever dedicated one of his books to Collins?

Linda Patten

Matthew Day (11 Jan 1998) wrote:

Dear David Grigg,

I have just read "The Woman in White" while in bed with tonsillitis and have to say that it is one of the best books I have read for many years. The plot, characterisation and simply effortless style of narrative had me captivated literally from start to finish! There was recently a dramatisation of the book on BBC in the UK but it was vastly altered from the original and a very poor interpretation. Do you know if any films have been made of the book! ... An interesting site!

Best wishes,
Matthew Day

William Safi (06 Jan 1998) wrote:

Hello,

I found your website very informative and it has sparked a great interest in Wilkie Collins' work. I purchased a copy of the Moonstone at a thrift store. I like to collect old books, but only ones I will surely read as my shelf space at home is limited. Having never heard of Wilkie Collins, I brought the Moonstone home because the book looked quite old, however it did not have a publication date. This brings me to the reason for surfing the web for related sites; I wish to find the age of my book. It was published by the Book League of America and seems to be part of a collection of various works---I bought a copy of Emile Zola's Nana at the same time and it is part of this collection.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the Moonstone and became so fond of the character Betteredge that I wished I could read a whole novel from his point of view. I believe Robinson Crusoe was the first 'old' book I purchased and read as a child; for that reason his character was even more endearing.

Perhaps your web readers would find it strange that I am mostly a science fiction fan, however mysteries are great fun. I am looking forward to my next Wilkie Collins book and will use your recommended reading list. If you can direct me at all about my copy of the Moonstone and it's age I would appreciate it. I know little about book values or publishing companies so I am at a loss as to where to hunt for info.

Thanks a lot,
Kim

Melanie White (19 Dec 1997) wrote:

Hello, I found your website while searching for information on Wilkie Collins. I am in a book group and we are currently reading "The Moonstone." My question is, was Wilkie Collins Irish, or did he come from an Irish family?

The reason I ask is this: I have done quite a lot of travelling in Ireland and have noted their (very natural) propensity to stock their bookstore shelves liberally with Irish writers' books. And I keep seeing Wilkie Collins' books there, which makes me wonder if he was of Irish extraction. I know the books all tell you he was born in London, but that doesn't tell you his family background.

Collins is a common name in Ireland.

Here's an example of what I mean. We all think of the Bronte sisters as English ladies. But indeed, their father was from Northern Ireland and their mother was from Cornwall, which could make them half-Irish and half-Cornish -- which could make them very Celtic and possibly not very English! I realize this is splitting hairs, but I do find this kind of thing interesting.

Often famous Irish people are known as English because their careers got launched in England -- happens all the time. So I was wondering if you could tell me about his family background.

Grateful in anticipation of your reply,

Thanks very much,
Melanie White -- mewhite@worldnet.att.net

Pamela K. Crossley (15 Jul 1997) wrote:

I'm glad this page is here.

I am reading my first Wilkie, the Moonstone, which I had on my shelf for years but was moved to read by the comments of a friend who had seen the BBC series. She considered it one of the better productions, but was unhappy with the scriptwriting innovations --for instance, an exchange in which a woman (evidently Rachel) says to a man (evidently Franklin), "In England, we say 'hello.'" An obvious anachronism, and she said the script was full of ignorant intrusions like that that clearly have nothing to do with what is actually in the novel.

The novel itself is tremendously entertaining, and so far has kept me company while I've been travelling literally around the world. Very modern and among the most clever and stylish I've ever read. I'm afraid I expected something along the lines of Chesterton, which would have been fine, but it is really far superior to virtually anything else at all in the genre. That's a lesson to me! Glad he's not being neglected.

David Arnott (09 Jul 1997) wrote:

Hi David,

Since e-mailing you last year with my comments on The Moonstone I have read a few more of Wilkie's books namely The Woman In White, Armadale and Basil and have numerous others on my bookshelves (purchased through Amazon.com). I have recently acquired some web space to produce my own site and decided that I would attempt a mini Wilkie Collins site aimed mainly at information exchange between Collins enthusiasts. I would be grateful if you could show a link on your pages to my site http://web.onyxnet.co.uk/David.Arnott-onyxnet.co.uk/collins/index.html.

This site is far from complete and is not yet very comprehensive, as it is my first attempt at web authoring! If you get time, please have a browse through the site and let me know any comments or suggestions that you have. As I say don't expect too much - I've only been on-line with this site for about a week and am making major changes and updates continuously!. I appreciate any help or advice you can give me.

David Arnott

Photomax (22 May 1997) wrote:

Greetings!
I was pleased to discover your website. I am always looking for more information about gothic writers for my research. I am a small press publisher (16 yrs.) and my main areas of publishing are horror and mystery. I am currently establishing several on-line publications devoted to gothic horror and mystery. (I already publish various printed zines, newsletters, etc.)I am open to submissions anytime (articles, reviews, interviews, poetry, fiction, photos and artwork). I also exchange reviews and web links. Plus I run free ads. I welcome both amateur and experienced writers and artists. Since I am a small press publisher I operate on a shoe-string budget so I pay only modest fees and/or free copies upon publication.
photomax@earthlink.net
or if there is a problem try
sherlockian@hotmail.com

Andrew Gasson (19 May 1997) wrote:

Just a line to say how much I liked your Wilkie Collins site. I am currently completing (at proof stage) a book to be called WILKIE COLLINS - AN ILLUSTRATED GUIDE. OUP to be published in February 1998. This will be about 100,000 words with about 200 Wilkie Collins related pictures. When I have some time I hope to put some of the material onto web pages.
Regards,
Andrew Gasson

Debbie Parry (07 Jan 1997) wrote:

Having read No Name and The Woman in White "back-to-back" I was surprised at the lack of "compare and contrast" material in the front of both books concerning Captain Wragge and Count Fosco. Whilst the female characters in both books are discussed, compared and contrasted at length, this struck me as a great omission. As No Name is one of your favourites, do you have an opinion?

Kind regards, Debbie Parry.

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