1873 Leather Wilkie Collins Mystery The New Magdalen Illustrated Edition
$ 13.2
Description
1873 LEATHER WILKIE COLLINS MYSTERY THE NEW MAGDALEN ILLUSTRATED EDITION. 325 pages. OFFERED HERE is an 1873 Victorian era illustrated edition bound in leather, Wilkie Collins' classic The New Magdalen, as published by Harper & Brothers, New York. 325 pages. Sized 7x5 inches, bound in black leather, gilt titles, black leather patterned boards. An owner name, E. Capron. Some edge wear. The New Magdalen (1873) by Wilkie Collins is a novel about a "fallen woman," Mercy Merrick, who assumes the identity of a respectable lady, Lady Roseberry, to escape her past, but her deception is revealed, leading to a critique of Victorian society's harsh judgment of women and its double standards. The story follows Mercy's attempts to find redemption and a new life, exploring themes of identity, class, and the struggle for forgiveness in a society that condemns her past as a prostitute. Key aspects of the novel: Plot: The story begins during the Franco-Prussian War, where Mercy, a nurse, meets Grace Roseberry. After Grace dies, Mercy takes her identity to start a new life in England, but her past as a "fallen woman" threatens to destroy her new respectable life. Themes: It's a "novel with a purpose" that tackles the social stigma of prostitution, class prejudice, and the hypocrisy of Victorian morality, advocating for compassion over condemnation. Genre: While a sensation novel like many of Collins' works, it is less sensational and more focused on social commentary, blending suspense with a plea for humanity. Protagonist: Mercy Merrick is a complex, flawed heroine whose attempts at a new life are repeatedly thwarted by societal prejudice, making her a compelling character for readers.
