This is considered by many to be the first detective novel. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did.
The moonstone was a large yellow diamond that had been stolen during the storming of Seringapatam (India) in 1799. Through a complicated series of events, the moonstone is given to Rachel Verinder for her 18th birthday in 1848, and it disappears the next morning. The story is told by many different narrators, beginning with Mr. Betteredge, house steward for Rachel's mother, the Lady Verinder. This sounds like it would be difficult to follow, but it actually worked really well.
This is my 19th century classic for the 2015 Back to the Classics challenge. I thoroughly enjoyed it and rate it 5 out of 5.
3 comments:
I didn't expect to like The Moonstone as much as I did, either--but it started me off on reading Wilkie Collins books. They are not always easy going, but I have loved the three I've read: The Moonstone, The Woman in White, and No Name. I have a copy of The Law and the Lady for my next one. I'll probably have a crack at it this summer.
I've been doing very poorly on my reading challenges this year...except for the Mount TBR challenge--I am plugging along pretty well there. I really have to do something about the number of books I have on my shelves waiting to be read. I think I'm about to tip over into book hoarding...
I really enjoyed this when I read it a few years ago. Personally, I like Collins' The Women in White better, but this is still an intriguing story.
Hi Cheryl~
we met on several "imaginary trips", but I haven't checked your blog recently until today...I like your Book Reviews and found this entry for Moonstone.
I read "moonstone" this spring. I had read " Woman in White" a year or so ago and LOVED it. I enjoyed Moonstone but really like the first one better.
Just nice to reconnect...even in this small way.
~Suzanne Krueger
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