Wilkie Collins (1824-1889)

William Wilkie Collins was a novelist and playwright whose most well known books are 'The Woman in White' and 'The Moonstone'. He was a part time collaborater with his friend Charles Dickens and the pair occasionally acted together in amateur productions. Collins suffered with gout for much of his life and became addicted to opium which he took to ease the pain. He wrote his most successful novels and plays during the 1860s but the quality of his writing declined in later years. 

"I have got the public ear, plenty of time, and the

stimulant of a real success to give me confidence

in my work to come" 

This interesting letter was written in November 1860, three months after 'The Woman in White' was first published by Sampson Low. In it, Wilkie Collins talks about his personal worth and the financial success of some of his books. As well as 'The Woman in White', he refers to his published works 'Hide and Seek', 'The Queen of Hearts' and 'The Dead Secret'. Between 1861 and 1862 Sampson Low published a collection of six of Wilkie Collins' works including the ones he mentions in his letter. The collection was advertised as 'The Novels and Romances of Wilkie Collins (Revised with New Prefaces by the Author). Cheap and Uniform Edition; handsomely bound in cloth, with vignette illustrations.' The illustrator was John Gilbert. 

View Wilkie Collins' letter [opens in a new window] 

Image Rights: From Library of Congress