The Haunted Hotel A Mystery of Modern Venice

by Wilkie Collins

Overview

Is there no explanation of the mystery of The Haunted Hotel? Is The Haunted Hotel the tale of a haunting -- or the tale of a crime? The ghost of Lord Montberry haunts the Palace Hotel in Venice --- or does it? Montberry's beautiful-yet-terrifying wife, the Countess Narona, and her erstwhile brother are the center of the terror that fills the Palace Hotel. Are there malefactions at the root of the haunting -- or is there something darker, something much more unknowable at work? (Goodreads)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783962722968
Publisher:	Otbebookpublishing
Publication date:	03/20/2020
Series:	Classics To Go
Sold by:	Bookwire
Format:	eBook
Pages:	179
File size:	516 KB

About the Author

Wilkie Collins (1824-1889) was a pioneering English novelist, playwright, and short story writer, best known for his contributions to the development of the detective and sensation genres. Born into a family of artists, Collins initially pursued a career in law before turning to literature, where he found his true calling. His friendship and collaboration with Charles Dickens significantly influenced his career, with Collins contributing to Dickens' periodicals and often sharing the stage with him during public readings.Collins' groundbreaking works, such as "The Woman in White" and "The Moonstone," are celebrated for their intricate plots, psychological depth, and innovative use of suspense. "The Moonstone" is particularly notable for being one of the first detective novels in English literature, introducing readers to the concept of the detective as a central character.Collins' personal life was as unconventional as his fiction. He maintained long-term relationships with two women simultaneously, Caroline Graves and Martha Rudd, defying Victorian social norms. This aspect of his life, along with his progressive views on women's rights and his critique of social injustices, adds a layer of intrigue to his legacy.Despite struggling with health issues and addiction to laudanum, Collins remained a prolific writer. His works not only entertained but also challenged contemporary societal norms, influencing writers like Arthur Conan Doyle and paving the way for modern detective fiction. Today, Wilkie Collins is remembered as a master storyteller who dared to explore the darker corners of the human psyche and society.
William Wilkie Collins (8 January 1824 – 23 September 1889) was an English novelist, playwright and short story writer best known for The Woman in White (1859) and The Moonstone (1868). The last has been called the first modern English detective novel. Born to the family of a painter, William Collins, in London, he grew up in Italy and France, learning French and Italian. He began work as a clerk for a tea merchant. After his first novel, Antonina, appeared in 1850, he met Charles Dickens, who became a close friend and mentor. Some of Collins's works appeared first in Dickens's journals All the Year Round and Household Words and they collaborated on drama and fiction. Collins achieved financial stability and an international following with his best known works in the 1860s, but began suffering from gout. Taking opium for the pain grew into an addiction. In the 1870s and 1880s his writing quality declined with his health. Collins was critical of the institution of marriage: he split his time between Caroline Graves and his common-law wife Martha Rudd, with whom he had three children. (Wikipedia)

Date of Birth:

December 8, 1824

Date of Death:

September 23, 1889

Place of Birth:

London, England

Place of Death:

London, England

Education:

Studied law at Lincoln¿s Inn, London