BleakChesneyWold

       Sensation Novel Transformed into a Social Concern Romance             'The New Magdalene' , serialised in 1872-1873, then as a novel in 1873, is certainly an interesting and surprisingly difficult  work: Arguably contains three quite diverse sections under one title. In the 21st century Wilkie Collins ( 1824- 1889) is largely known for 'The Woman in White' ( published in 1860) and 'The Moonstone' ( 1868). The former is a major work in the development of the Victorian 'sensation novel', the latter a key player in the rise of the detective novel. It is hard to imagine 'The New Magdalene' being dramatised for modern television, or film, though a stage version did appear shortly after its publication.  This novel deals with plight of a 'fallen woman' , a social usurper, who is eventually redeemed by the love of a good Christian gentleman, but remained displaced by wider society. They both go into voluntary exile. Collin...

                                       A Vampire Story or Science Fiction ?           Mary Elizabeth Braddon  (1835-1915) is most famous for the novels   Lady Audley's Secret (1862)   and Aurora Floyd ( serialised in 1862; published as a novel in 1863 )  . Dozens more novels, short stories, children's tales, poems, followed. Mary Elizabeth Braddon was also an actress, and magazine editor.  The genres Braddon explored included ghost, horror, and crime fiction.  Pleased to have found the Classic Ghost Story Podcast version of  Good Lady Ducayne  read by Tony Walker. Originally appeared via installments in 'The Strand Magazine' in 1896. A year before Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' and Richard Marsh's 'The Beetle'.  Good Lady Ducayne appears to be set in the decade it was written. Fiction now and then is often placed slight...