The Life and Works of Wilkie Collins Quiz

Answer: Artist

William Wilkie Collins, son of the landscape and portrait painter, William John Thomas Collins, was born in London on 8 January 1824. He was named after his godfather, the artist Sir David Wilkie.

Answer: Clerk to a firm of tea merchants

Although Wilkie remained in the tea business for the next five years, he didn't enjoy it. He then began to study law, but never actually became a practising lawyer, preferring to devote his time to his writing career instead.

Answer: Memoirs of the Life of William Collins, Esq, RA

Wilkie's first book was a biography of his father, William Collins, and was published in 1848.

"Antonina, or the Fall of Rome" (1850) was his first novel and "Rambles Beyond Railways" (1851) was a travel book on Cornwall. "The Law and The Lady", however, was a much later novel published in 1875.

Answer: Never

Collins' private life was considered scandalous by the standards of 19th century English society. While living with a widow called Caroline Graves and her daughter, Elizabeth Harriet, he was also involved in a relationship with another woman, Martha Rudd, by whom he had three children.

After his death his will divided his property between both households, although he had never married either of these women.

Answer: Rheumatic gout

Wilkie suffered from a form of rheumatic gout. As well as causing severe pain in his legs, the illness also affected his eyesight. Collins took laudanum to relieve the symptoms of his illness, and he became addicted to the drug. The subject of opium addiction plays a major part in the final chapters of his 1868 novel, "The Moonstone", and is also alluded to in some of his other books including "Armadale".

Answer: Charles Dickens

Collins contributed several stories, including one entitled "A Terribly Strange Bed", to Dickens' journal "Household Words", a publication which he also helped to edit.

A number of Collins' novels were later published in another of Dickens' periodicals, "All The Year Round". The two authors also worked together to write numerous short stories and plays including 1867's "No Thoroughfare".

Answer: The Moonstone

"The Moonstone" was published in 1868 and introduced a number of the features which are now considered to be standard components of modern mystery novels.
The story revolves around a precious diamond stolen from an Indian temple by a British soldier. His niece, Rachel Verinder, receives the diamond on her 18th birthday, only for it to disappear that same night. The rest of the book follows the attempts of various characters to find the thief and recover the missing diamond.

Answer: The Woman in White

"The Woman in White" was originally serialized in Charles Dickens' weekly literary publication "All The Year Round" from 1859-1860 and quickly became one of the most popular novels of the 19th century.

Count Fosco is one of Collins' most memorable characters. He is ruthless and cunning, yet displays a childlike sensitivity in his devotion to his pet canaries and white mice.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical adaptation of the book opened in London's West End in 2004, with Michael Crawford playing the Count.

Answer: No Name

"No Name" is considered to be one of Collins' four major novels, along with "The Woman in White", "Armadale" and "The Moonstone".

The story deals with the subject of illegitimacy and its implications in the 19th century. After the deaths of Magdalen Vanstone's parents, she is informed that because they weren't married at the time of her birth, she has no claim on their fortune. The remainder of the plot centres around Magdalen's efforts to win back her inheritance, with the help of one of Collins' most lovable villains, Captain Wragge.

Answer: 1889

Wilkie's health problems continued to worsen as he grew older. Following complications after suffering a stroke, he died on 23rd September 1889.
His tombstone in Kensal Green Cemetery was inscribed with the words "In memory of Wilkie Collins, author of The Woman in White and other works of fiction".