Charles Allston Collins (1828-1873)

Charles Allston Collins, the brother of author Wilkie Collins, was a British artist and illustrator. Although not an official member, his work is most closely associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. He later embarked on a writing career, his most successful literary work was a collection of humorous sketches titled 'The Eye Witness' published in 1860 by Sampson Low, Son & Co. Collins married Charles Dicken's daughter Kate. He died aged 45 from cancer in 1873. 

"There are now enough of these papers to make a

tolerably thick volume and I have no doubt that Mr

Dickens would allow of this being brought out…"

In his letter dated May 1860, Charles Allston Collins writes to propose the publication of several of his 'Eye-Witness' articles which have appeared in Charles Dicken's 'All the Year Round' magazine. He suggests publishing them in a single volume with the title 'The Eye-Witness – his evidence on all sorts of subjects from a Handel Festival to a Friendly Lead, and from an Election enquiry to a Cattle show'.

As stated previously, 'The Eye Witness' articles were Collins' most successful literary work and were encouraged by his father-in-law Charles Dickens. The book was eventually published with the considerably shorter title 'The Eye-Witness and his Evidence about many Wonderful Things'. 

View Charles Allston Collins' letter [opens in a new window]

Image Rights: Zip Lexing / Alamy Stock Photo