Look inside

Historical Novels

No Name

3.5(2)
Not availableFree shipping
Buy Now

About the book

No Name is an 1862 novel by Wilkie Collins. Illegitimacy is a major theme of the novel. It was originally serialised in Charles Dickens's magazine All the Year Round before book publication. It is the second of his four "great novels", released after The Woman in White (1860) and before Armadale (1866) and The Moonstone (1868).Plot summaryThe story is told in eight major parts, called Scenes.Scene One begins in 1846, at Combe-Raven in West Somerset, the country residence of the wealthy Vanstone family: Andrew Vanstone, his wife, and their two daughters. Norah, age 26, is happy and quiet; Magdalen, 18, is beautiful but volatile and wilful. The family lives in peace and contentment, with the girls' former governess, Miss Garth.Through amateur theatricals, Magdalen discovers she is a talented actress. She falls in love with Frank Clare, who is also in the play. Frank, the idle but handsome son of a neighbour, has reluctantly tried to pursue a career but failed, and his father is not wealthy. However, the young couple wish to marry and Magdalen's fortune will easily support them.Their fathers agree to the marriage, but before it takes place Mr. Vanstone is killed in a train crash and Mrs. Vanstone dies in childbirth. The family lawyer, Mr. Pendril, tells Norah and Magdalen that despite appearances their parents had only been married for a few months, and their wedding invalidated Mr. Vanstone's will leaving everything to the daughters.Since the daughters are illegitimate, they have no name, no rights, and no property. Combe-Raven and the entire family fortune are inherited by Andrew's older brother, Michael Vanstone, who has been bitterly estranged from the family for many years. He refuses to provide any support for the orphaned young women. With the help only of Miss Garth, they set out to make their own way in the world....

Editions (33)

ISBN9791043135682
PublisherLes prairies numériques
Publication Date02/21/26
Pages946

Reviews & Ratings

2 ratings

1 reviews

3.5

Tap to filter

  • jersy104
    jersy104

    13 Followers

    4.0

    While I already knew that I love Collins' plots and characters, I had my doubts if he could justify filling 600 pages with what sounded like a simple story. Little did I know that the tale of a young, joyful girl that fights for what is rightfully hers would turn into pretty much a story from a villain's POV. The character development is wonderfully intriguing, as are the turns this book takes. While there might be too much descriptions here and there and some dialogs go on a tiny bit too long, I'm convinced the length of the novel absolutely makes sense. There is room to explore the different stages of the story and focus for a while on aspects some books would glance other. The pacing never suffers, though, since some "between the scenes" developments are brought to you in letters. I also love how there is no character I could just 100% get behind (moral ambiguity is always fun) but still rooted for what is basically a terrible person. I was just fascinated and thoroughly entertained throughout.

    Sep 4, 2022

Reading is better with the READO app.

Discover books, track progress, read together.

Library

Keep track