Publisher's Synopsis
The Woman in White is widely considered to be one of the first mystery novels as well as a first in the genre of "sensation" novels. It was written by Wilkie Collins in 1859 and tells a story of intrigue in London.
Walter Hartright is a young art teacher. One night in London, he sees a distressed woman dressed entirely in white. He gives her directions, and later finds out from the police that she had escaped from a nearby asylum. A little while after these events, he travels to his new position at Limmeridge House in Cumberland. When he arrives, the household is comprised of Frederick Fairlie, who is an invalid, and Hartright's students, Laura and Marian Halcombe.
Laura bears a striking resemblance to the woman in white, and that the household is acquainted with the woman, whose name is Anne Catherick, and who was devoted to Laura's mother. Hartright and Laura fall in love over the next few months although she is engaged to another man, Sir Percival Glyde. Marion advises Walter to leave the house, and Laura receives a mysterious letter warning her not to marry Glyde. Walter discovers that Anne sent the letter, and he believes that it was Glyde who originally had Anne committed to the asylum.
