The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

Our stage is set. There is a terrible tragedy-a young girl has fallen to her death from a train while it passes over a bridge on the way to Cornwall. Was it an accident, suicide, or was she pushed?

We meet neighbouring families with some history between them. John Wyllard, his wife Dora and her cousin Bothwell Grahame in one house, while Dora's spurned lover Edward Heathcote, now coroner, lives a short walk away with his sister Hilda (who is in love with Bothwell) and his 2 daughters Minnie and Jennie. Edward, despite his intervening marriage and widowhood, is still in love with Dora.

An investigation is started into the tragedy and Joseph Distin, a criminal lawyer from London, comes down to help out. Heathcote and indeed the community at large begin to suspect that Bothwell was somehow involved in the tragedy, and he finds himself shunned in town.

What do you think of the story so far?

Any thoughts about the possible identity of the dead young woman?

What are we led to believe about the various couples and triangles in our tale?

What do you think is the truth concerning Bothwell and any other characters?

Please share your thoughts on our opening section.

It's funny, I was listening to an audiobook mystery at the same time that starts when the detective sees a young woman fall (or be pushed) from a cliff and has to solve the crime. It's odd when patterns repeat like that.

I was a bit annoyed by the obvious classism that of course the villain must be some kind of ruffian, it couldn't be any of the respectable townspeople. But we soon got a suspicion directed to someone of the "better" class. I think zeroing in on Bothwell so early means he's not the culprit, but he has some secret relating to love that he is covering up. (Was he married abroad and thought no one would find out so he courted Hilda, and now someone has turned up with the truth?)

Robin wrote: I was a bit annoyed by the obvious classism that of course the villain must be some kind of ruffian...

Yes, that instant assumption that the culprit must be ruffianly was disconcerting. And I get the impression that if the culprit does turn out to be somebody from the lower classes it will only be as an instrument of someone higher up the social scale, as they're the only ones the book is concerned with so far.

Surely Julian Wyllard is to be our hero? With his tall powerful frame, beautiful smile, finely modelled features, etc etc, he is a template of an aristocrat whose worthiness is not to be questioned.

But it very soon becomes clear that relationships within the community have strong undercurrents. It's striking that everyone professes contentment with their lot, yet the book is strewn with contradictions to this: for instance, Dora is supposedly supremely happy in her marriage to Julian (so happy that she "had no value, hardly any individuality, apart from him' - which has an ominous ring) yet is obviously saddened by her lack of children. Meanwhile Heathcote tells himself that he is perfectly content with his life yet remains passionately devoted to Dora. And Bothwell respects his brother in law but is jealous of his wealth. So plenty going on there.

And lots of nice little oddities thrown out, whether red herrings or otherwise: why does Julian burn a lock of hair? Why does Bothwell keep travelling to Plymouth for no apparent reason?
I think both men will turn out to have a hidden past. Distin the lawyer also mentions that ten years ago Wyllard was "haggard, nervous and worried..."

If any other suspects were to be in the frame, you would expect them to have been introduced into the story by now, even if only round the edges. But perhaps I'm judging this by the standards of more modern thrillers, so such rules might not apply.

Braddon describes Bothwell in ch 2:

The young Scotchman was steeped to the eyes in true Caledonian pride of race; but he had none of the petty pride which makes a man scornful of that portion of the human family which earns its bread by humble avocations. He was as friendly with a railway-porter or a village tradesman as with the proudest landowner in the county; had not two sets of manners for high and low, or two distinct modes of speech for gentle and simple, the very intonation different for that inferior clay. Bothwell had never been able to understand why some of the men he knew talked to a tradesman or a servant just as they would have spoken to a dog, or, indeed, much less civilly than Bothwell spoke to his dogs. He was a staunch Conservative in most things; but in this one question of respect for his fellow-man he was an unmitigated Radical.

This suggests that he is viewed sympathetically by Braddon, and makes him likeable and therefore less likely to do something cold-blooded and self-serving.

Also, I agree with Robin's guess that early suspicion means unlikely to be the criminal, although maybe we are too influenced by the later mystery genre!

Emma wrote: "And lots of nice little oddities thrown out, whether red herrings or otherwise: why does Julian burn a lock of hair? Why does Bothwell keep travelling to Plymouth for no apparent reason?
I think both men will turn out to have a hidden past. Distin the lawyer also mentions that ten years ago Wyllard was "haggard, nervous and worried..." "

Yes, good points, I also wondered about a secret wife for either of them, and certainly Bothwell has implied that he now has an impediment to forming any kind of attachment with Hilda or anyone else.

Who thinks this is wedded bliss, and who finds this stifling and/or controlling?

But Dora was not dependent on her garden for occupation. Exacting as the roses and lilies were, manifold as were the cares of the hothouses and ferneries and wildernesses, Mrs. Wyllard's husband was more exacting still. When Julian was at home she could give but little time to her garden. He could hardly bear his wife to be out of his sight for half an hour. She had to be interested in all his schemes, all his letters, even to the driest business details. She rode and drove with him, and, as he had no taste for field sports, neither his guns nor his hunters took him away from her. He was a studious man, a man of artistic temperament, a lover of curious books and fine bindings, a lover of pictures and statues, and porcelain and enamels—a worshipper of the beautiful in every form. His tastes were such as a woman could easily and naturally share with him. This made their union all the more complete. Other wives wondered at beholding such domestic sympathy. There were some whose husbands could not sit by the domestic hearth ten minutes without dismal yawnings, men who depended upon newspapers for all their delight, men who's minds were always in the stable. Julian Wyllard was an ideal husband, who never yawned in a tete-a-tete with his wife, who shared every joy and every thought with the woman of his choice.

What do you think Braddon is trying to convey by this description?

Goodness me! This books dashes you into the intrigue so quickly!

Frances wrote: "Who thinks this is wedded bliss, and who finds this stifling and/or controlling?

But Dora was not dependent on her garden for occupation. Exacting as the roses and lilies were, manifold as were ..."

I think it reeks of compromise on Dora's part - Wyllard seems grimly patronising. I cheered inwardly when I read: 'For the first time in her life she [Dora] thought that her husband was ungenerous; and for the first time in her life she reckoned her own fortune as an element of power' (Ch. 3; Project Gutenburg EPUB edn, pp. 39-40).

MN wrote: "Goodness me! This books dashes you into the intrigue so quickly!"

Yes, it was the same with Lady Audley's Secret. These books seem modern in their pacing even if their views of society are outdated.

I agree with those who have noted how you are immediately pulled into the story. It’s impossible for me to read without noting all the “clues” concerning the various characters which might lead to identifying them as the murderer.
In this first section, there is an abundance of clues leading to identifying Bothwell as the murderer. Clues we pick up as readers, as well as the suspicions of both Heathcote and Diskin. Of course, as others have also noted, the person who seems the most suspicious never turns out to be the killer. Bothwell obviously has a secret which concerns his time in India and his frequent trips to Plymouth. A secret he has no wish to share. The one thing that bothers me is his insistence that the girl either died by suicide or accident rather than murder. Does he believe a murder investigation would uncover his secret? Did he really not see the girl on the Plymouth platform? If he did, why would he lie about it? Just curious.
Also some curious things about Julian in this section which Emma noted. Who did that lock of hair belong to that he hurriedly threw in the fire when Dora came into the room? I don’t believe his answer that it belonged to his dead sister. Also, what was the meaning of his “start” when Dustin commented he should take Dora to Biarritz? Is the author merely playing with the reader by throwing out red herrings?
For me, Heathcote seems to be the most “heroic” of the characters so far. Jilted unexpectedly by Dora, but trying to maintain a friendship with the Wyllards and being happy that their marriage is so strong. Despite the fact that he obviously is still in love with Dora. His esteemed position in the Bodmin area, higher than that of Julian, because of both his family’s roots there and his character, just increases this sense of the heroic.
Dora does seem totally subservient to Julian. But is that by her choice? Is she trying to be the ideal wife and also find his interests in art and books match hers? I’m not sure yet. I do agree that Dora is certainly asserting her will (and her money) in trying to help Bothwell when Julian seems fed up with him. She isn’t totally cowed by Julian.

My last passage of particular interest was a description of the Wyllard's home:

Ten minutes brought them to the gates of Penmorval, by far the lordlier domain, with a history that was rich in aristocratic traditions. But that ancient race for which Penmorval had been built, for whose sons and daughters it had grown in grandeur and dignity as the centuries rolled along—of these there remained no more than the echo of a vanished renown. They were gone, verily like a tale that is told; and the parvenu financier, the man who had grown rich by his own intellect and his own industry—naturally a very inferior personage—reigned in their stead.

Braddon is clearly explaining the local's view of the established family vs the wealthy parvenu-but do you think she is gently mocking this viewpoint, or does she support it? Certainly Heathcote is portrayed as the more likeable and possibly honourable character, but in reporting of someone who has grown rich "by his own intellect and industry"-that sounds admirable and impressive. Are we meant to support the natural superiority of the ancient races, or cheer for those who earn their own way?

Linda wrote: "Also some curious things about Julian in this section which Emma noted. Who did that lock of hair belong to that he hurriedly threw in the fire when Dora came into the room? I don’t believe his answer that it belonged to his dead sister. Also, what was the meaning of his “start” when Dustin commented he should take Dora to Biarritz? Is the author merely playing with the reader by throwing out red herrings?."

Could Julian have a secret french wife in Biarritz? Does Bothwell have a secret wife somewhere? Too many red herrings!

Frances wrote: "My last passage of particular interest was a description of the Wyllard's home:

Ten minutes brought them to the gates of Penmorval, by far the lordlier domain, with a history that was rich in aris..."

I think that the landed gentry still maintained the superior social position. Those who earned their fortune through actual work (!) were not held in the same high esteem we would today.
I think we’ll have to hold off final determinations on gentry versus the rising bourgeoisie depending on who is found to be the murderer as well as other despicable behavior. Right now Heathcote seems to be winning in that regard, but I’m sure there are more secrets yet to be revealed!

Frances wrote: "Who thinks this is wedded bliss, and who finds this stifling and/or controlling?

But Dora was not dependent on her garden for occupation. Exacting as the roses and lilies were, manifold as were ..."

Those phrases were an immediate red flag for me. Is Wyllard "keeping an eye on her"? Their marriage has been happy. If something were to upset that, would he turn into the controlling type? I strongly suspect he is the killer, by the way.

I suspect Bothwell either married someone well beneath his station, or he had a mistress. Maybe he thought the wife was dead or the mistress was out of his life when he started courting Hilda. And then, either the wife showed up alive or the mistress showed up with his child. That would explain his sudden change in demeanor, and why he suddenly stopped any loving gestures toward Hilda.

I wonder why Bothwell insists the death was an accident? I have two theories. 1. He has a pretty good idea of who did it and doesn't want his sister's life to be ruined. Until he told Dora he had a connection with a woman, I was sure that was the reason for his change in manner. 2. He's seen something like that happen before, and he either doesn't want to relive it or believed that other time was an accident.

The back story of Mr. Wyllard makes me think of Mr. Lopez from Trollope's The Prime Minister. Of course, the two men are very different (and they treat their wives very differently), but no one in the area really knows much about Mr. Wyllard (and I think Braddon implied they don't entirely trust him, or didn't at first anyway). Wyllard is also "new rich" without a noble lineage, though unlike in Lopez's case, he really does have money. I wonder if he made it in a completely honest way.

I'm really enjoying the book so far. Can't wait to find out more! Although, I feel like I should have been keeping a timeline. Seems like it may be important to remember when Bothwell was in India, when Mr. Wyllard was I-forgot-where with Distin, etc.

Lori wrote: Wyllard is also "new rich" without a noble lineage, though unlike in Lopez's case, he really does have money. I wonder if he made it in a completely honest way. ..

I think he didn't. There's a clue in ch.3 where Wyllard says "I kept out of rotten schemes" and the author adds '("or got out of them before they collapsed", he might have said).' So there's a hint that he was involved in rotten schemes, in which somebody else will probably have lost money.

In the same chapter we're told that Wyllard "was said to be a kind-hearted man... but he could not be worried about the details of other people's lives." I think the said to be is telling. We don't get to know his thoughts as we do those of his wife. And the title Wyllard's Weird implies that his role is central to the book... as murderer?

That said, Bothwell's behaviour is a puzzle. I thought Lori's observations were very astute on why he might have insisted that the girl's death was an accident.

The descriptions of the countryside and the distinctions between the old landed families and new moneyed families reminded me of the Poldark series.

Robin wrote: "Yes, it was the same with Lady Audley's Secret. These books seem modern in their pacing even if their views of society ..."

Thank you for this, Robin. I've just added a copy of Lady Audley's Secret for my TBR pile/mountain range. ...

We read it a year or so ago so if you read it, you can find the thread in the archives, and you can still post any comments.

Wow, I love all the theorizing, much of it very close to some of my pet theories as well!

There certainly seems to be a distinction between old money and the self-made variety, and it's hard to tell exactly where Braddon herself falls. I know that, for myself, despite a "working up from the working class" background, there is a certain admiration of the ancient lineages no doubt nurtured by extensive 18th-19th century Brit-Lit reads.

I was actually able to read this first section amidst all the kids while on vacation. What a good start! I’m thoroughly enjoying this one and was surprised by how quickly murder occurred. But I was even more surprised by the quickness of suspicion that fell upon Bothwell. Am I being premature in assuming that Bothwell will indeed prove to be the murderer? At this point I will be surprised if it turns out to be someone else.

I’ll read through the previous posts and try to comment a bit more when I return from vacation and am not on my phone.

Robin wrote: "We read it a year or so ago so if you read it, you can find the thread in the archives, and you can still post any comments."
Thank you for this, Robin. I look forward to tracking others' ideas.

And now I might end up a bit behind. I requested The Overstory by Richard Powers from the library a few months ago and was on a long wait list. I just saw it's on the way and I'll probably only have it for two weeks, so I'll have to read it first!

Finally got to read this. I’ve always loved the sensational novels and Braddon so this is a real treat for me. I’m also a mystery fan and read them in bed at night.

Heathcote is the hero to me. We definitely, as previously been posted by others, have mysteries in Bothwell and Wyllard. Mystery fiction formats have not changed much over the years. It’s a rarity when the murder doesn’t take place within the first two chapters so this is very typical of even modern mysteries.

I don’t have any idea yet of the murderer. Like many of you, I feel Bothwell is just too easy. Time will tell.

Mr. Wyllard and Bothwell both have some secrets. What sort of secrets they are is the question. And the biggest question is that any of them had a hand in the "murder" of the young french girl. It is difficult to speculate at this stage.

It is certain that Bothwell's secret involves a woman. As many of you have mentioned here, it may be that he was married in India and left behind his wife to begin a new life in England. With this intention, he had been attentive to Hilda Heathcote. Or perhaps he had a mistress who he wanted to give up, but somehow turned up in his life again. Whatever his secret, my personal feeling is that he may not be the murderer.

Mr. Wyllard's secret is difficult to fathom. Perhaps he too had a wife or mistress in Biarritz. Or his secret is something totally different. His character is such that he can be guilty of even a crime and still live a cool contented life. At present, my suspicion is pointed at him.

This is really a very interesting read. It is really surprising that this is a lesser known work of Braddon.

I agree with the comments about Wyllard as a husband. He seems to "perfect" and I don't trust him. Will Dora have an unpleasant surprise when she goes to use her own money? He is just too smooth.
Bothwell is protecting someone in Plymouth. I can't see him pushing a young woman out of a train, somehow.

So far I am enjoying this more than Lady Audley's Secret, maybe because of the mystery.

Rosemarie wrote: "So far I am enjoying this more than Lady Audley's Secret, maybe because of the mystery."

I agree with you there, Rosemarie. I'm too enjoying this more than Lady Audley's Secret .

If you are a member of Audible, there is a special today on the audiobook of Lady Audley's Secret. I found that one very compelling as well.

OK, I previously said that I will be surprised if Bothwell turns out not to be the murderer. I change my mind! I agree with what others have stated above, that it is just too easy. I also think that Lori's reasoning for why Bothwell insisted that the girl's death was an accident or suicide good guesses. I think that his insistence was a red herring for me in suspecting him in the first place. I will now be disappointed if it turns out to be him, but my suspicion now points to Mr. Wyllard. Again, all great comments above in regards to him seeming like the perfect man, but I do think that Dora's marriage to him sounds stifling and something there has got to give at some point.

I'm trying to catch up now, just not as much reading time as I would like. But I'm pleasantly surprised by how this story has sucked me in and I'm really enjoying the characterizations, the mystery, and the pacing of the book, so I'm glad I chose to jump in on this read with you all.