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The Moonstone
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The Moonstone (1868) (edit title/settings)

by Wilkie Collins (Author) (edit contributors)

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Wilkie Collins’s spellbinding tale of romance, theft, and murder inspired a hugely popular genre–the detective mystery. Hinging on the theft of an enormous diamond originally stolen from an Indian shrine, this riveting novel features the innovative Sergeant Cuff, the hilarious house steward... read more

Summary edit see section history

"The Moonstone is a page-turner," writes Carolyn Heilbrun. "It catches one up and unfolds its amazing story through the recountings of its several narrators, all of them enticing and singular." Wilkie Collins’s spellbinding tale of romance, theft, and murder inspired a hugely popular genre–the... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

"The Moonstone is a page-turner," writes Carolyn Heilbrun. "It catches one up and unfolds its amazing story through the recountings of its several narrators, all of them enticing and singular." Wilkie Collins’s spellbinding tale of romance, theft, and murder inspired a hugely popular genre–the detective mystery. Hinging on the theft of an enormous diamond originally stolen from an Indian shrine, this riveting novel features the innovative Sergeant Cuff, the hilarious house steward Gabriel Betteridge, a lovesick housemaid, and a mysterious band of Indian jugglers. This Modern Library Paperback Classic is set from the definitive 1871 edition.

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Quotes edit see section history

  • “This excellent woman treats me with an excessive civility which is plainly the offspring of down-right terror.”
  • “But doors and listeners have a knack of getting together.”
  • “The Moonstone will have its vengeance yet on you and yours!”
  • “My husband is no more... His present address, sir, is THE GRAVE.”
    Mrs. Threadgall
  • “When my spirits are bad -- ROBINSON CRUSOE. When I want advice -- ROBINSON CRUSOE. In past times when my wife plagued me; in present times when I have had a drop too much -- ROBINSON CRUSOE.”
  • “Cultivate a superiority to reason and see how you pare the claws of all the sensible people when they try to scratch you for your own good!”
  • “"You would have done great things in my profession, ma'am, if you had happened to be a man."”
    Sgt Cuff to Miss Clack

First Sentence edit see section history

In the first part of Robinson Crusoe, at page one hundred and twenty-nine, you will find it thus written: "Now I saw, though too late, the Folly of beginning a Work before we count the Cost, and before we judge rightly of our own Strength to go through with it."

Table of Contents edit see section history

Prologue
-The Storming of Seringapatam (1799) Extracted from a family Paper

The Story
-First Period
--The Loss of the Diamond (1848) The Events related by Gabriel Betteredge, House-Steward in the service of Julia, Lady Verinder

-Second Period
--The Discovery of the Truth (1848-1849) The events related in several Narratives
---First Narrative - contributed by Miss Clack, niece of the late Sir John Verinder
---Second Narrative - contributed by Mathew Bruff, Solicitor, of Gray's Inn Square
---Third Narrative - contributed by Franklin Blake
---Fourth Narrative - extracted from the Journal of Ezra Jennings
---Fifth Narrative - the story resumed by Franklin Blake
---Sixth Narrative - contributed by Sergeant Cuff
---Seventh Narrative - in a letter from Mr. Candy
---Eighth Narrative - contributed by Gabriel Betteredge

Epilogue
-The Finding of the Diamond
--I. The Statement of Sergeant Cuff's Man (1849)
--II. The Statement of the Captain (1849)
--III. The Statement of Mr. Murthwaite (1850) In a Letter to Mr Bruff

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 7 of 100 in Top 100 Mysteries of All Time (Mystery Writers of America, 1995). (authoritative list)
This book is in Penguin Classics. (publisher edition list)
This book is in Guardian 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read. (authoritative list)
This book is in Penguin's Top 100 Classics. (authoritative list)
This is book 863 of 1286 in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. (authoritative list)
This is book 60 of 101 in Penguin English Library. (publisher series)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Wilkie Collins (Author)

Other Contributors:

  1. John Sutherland (Editor)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Tinsley Brothers
Country: Great Britain
Publication Date: 1868
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 491

Classification edit see section history

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Young Adults

Writing style is easy to follow while not being so basic to be boring. The story is not 'scary' either.

Books That Cite This Book edit see section history

   
  • Drood
  • The Attenbury Emeralds

Books Cited by This Book edit see section history

   
  • Robinson Crusoe
  • Confessions of an English Opium Eater

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