Wilkie Collins on Cornwall

by Wilkie Collins, Rick Stein (Introduction), Henry Brandling (Illustrator)

240 pages, Hardcover

Published April 10, 2026

About the author

Wilkie Collins was an English novelist and playwright, best known for The Woman in White (1860), an early sensation novel, and The Moonstone (1868), a pioneering work of detective fiction. Born to landscape painter William Collins and Harriet Geddes, he spent part of his childhood in Italy and France, learning both languages. Initially working as a tea merchant, he later studied law, though he never practiced. His literary career began with Antonina (1850), and a meeting with Charles Dickens in 1851 proved pivotal. The two became close friends and collaborators, with Collins contributing to Dickens' journals and co-writing dramatic works.
Collins' success peaked in the 1860s with novels that combined suspense with social critique, including No Name (1862), Armadale (1864), and The Moonstone, which established key elements of the modern detective story. His personal life was unconventional—he openly opposed marriage and lived with Caroline Graves and her daughter for much of his life, while also maintaining a separate relationship with Martha Rudd, with whom he had three children.
Plagued by gout, Collins became addicted to laudanum, which affected both his health and later works. Despite declining quality in his writing, he remained a respected figure, mentoring younger authors and advocating for writers' rights. He died in 1889 and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery. His legacy endures through his influential novels, which laid the groundwork for both sensation fiction and detective literature.

Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1850 Wilkie Collins (Woman in White, The Moonstone) took off on a walk around Cornwall. There were no trains, no trail maps, and it was uncommon to see two men tramping across the countryside with knapsacks - they were thought to be peddlers or vagrants. He and his friend (a gifted illustrator) took off in search of adventure, legends and history and the result is this lovely little notebook of stories. Most of the places they visited are still in Cornwall today. He very much captures the feeling of the area. Quick read. Highly recommend especially if you have or plan to visit cornwall.