::READERS REVIEWS::

"No Name" is an exciting sensational novel of the 1860s featuring a spirited and bold heroine who will keep your interest - William Wilkie Collins (1824-89) was one of the early authors of whodunit and sensational fiction in the Victorian world. His most famous books are "The Moonstone"; "The Woman in White"; "Armadale" and "No Name."
No Name was first published in 1862 to wide sales. The book is much lesser read today but is still worth reading in all its 741 page glory!
The story is complicated. Two sisters Norah and Magadalene Vanstone learn to their dismay that their parents were not married when they were born. The mother dies in a middle age childbirth while their kind find is killed in a railroad accident. They are disbarred from inheriting the estate of their rich grandfather with the money being given to the foolish, vain and cruel Noel Vanstone their cousin and the son of the deceased Michael Vanstone (who is their father's brother).
Norah becomes a governess but Magdalene is much more feisty! She (under the management of swindler Captain Wragge)performs dramatic readings throughout England and she disguises herself to spy on Noel Vanstone. Suprisingly she marries Noel but hates him.
Minor characters are a fun part of the story from the idiotic Mrs. Wragge to an old sailor to the sly servant of Noel Vanstone the creepy Mrs. Laconte. Norah and Magdalene fall in love with good and decent men whose names are George Bartram and Captain Kirke
To tell the rest of the story would spoil it for new readers! Just let it be said that the book has a good deal of humor, interesting characters and is a page turner. It is also written in a style easy to read which provides many cliff hangers and shocking surprises along the way. The book, as so many of the Victorian novels, was initially published in monthly parts to whet the public's appetite to read further about the doings of Magdalene and her friends and foes. Well recommended1

Classic Wilkie Collins - I'm only half-way through right now, but this is definitely classic Wilie Collins. I love Collins' style of writing; the way he uses words, and phrases, and builds suspense is top notch. Collins always has a strong female heroine, and he doesn't disappoint with No Name. I am definitely furiously turning pages....!

You know a book is good when you don't want it to end - No Name is the third book I've read from Wilkie Collins, the first two being The Moonstone and The Woman in White, which are considered to be the two most popular of his novels. As with those two, Collins once again comes up with a book that is deep, complicated, yet intriguing, suspenseful and fun to read, all despite its hefty length (over seven hundred pages). No Name takes on the issue of illegitimacy, which in Collins' time period might have been a stigma of disgrace for the children (although today we probably wouldn't even budge). The novel's main protagonist, Magdalen, is one of the two Vanstone sisters, who are dubbed "no one's children" after the truth about their parents' marriage is revealed. Symbolically, both sisters have their identity stolen from them in society; legally, both also have their inheritance and legacy taken from them and given to their greedy uncle, Michael Vanstone, who was on bad terms with their father. When he dies, all the inheritance then goes over to his equally greedy son, Noel. Both sisters, Norah and Magdalen, have to fend for themselves in the world after losing money and their home. While Norah tries to go about living by being a governess, Magdalen, very much the opposite of Norah, wants to reclaim their father's inheritance at any cost or means necessary. The story moves away from Norah, and we focus primarily on Magdalen the rest of the way.

Several aspects make No Name an engaging book, namely its vivid characterization and plot devices. Collins constructs a complicated plot where Magdalen teams up with the self-proclaimed "moral agriculturalist" (aka scoundrel) Captain Wragge in attempts to regain the family inheritance, and the pair concoct a scheme which includes changing their names, identity, and their attire to gain access to Noel Vanstone and the inheritance. Magdalen even decides to take on the idea of marrying the miserly Noel Vanstone. However, Captain Wragge meets his match in Mrs. Lecount, the faithful and even shrewder governess for Noel Vanstone. Probably the most entertaining part of No Name is following along with all the twists and turns as Captain Wragge and Mrs. Lecount attempt to outmaneuver each other. Wragge and Lecount will stoop as low as they can to trick each other, and this creates some rather distasteful encounters, but funny nonetheless. Collins has a way of creating suspense, and then twisting a plot event into another suspenseful moment. Magdalen is the most complex character in the Collins' work, as she is a rare female hero in Victorian fiction that is feisty and unrelenting in her pursuit, even to the point where she can be cruel to those close to her. There are times when you want to root for her, but there are times when you feel as though she is acting too impulsive and foolhardy. Part of her depth stems from the idea that she is not just trying to only save her and her sister's name, but out of principle for her father's memory. Captain Wragge is one of the more memorable characters in fiction; his slyness is unrelenting, and his "street smarts" about deception is unparalleled in any character I've read. He struck me as reminiscent of a Dickens-type character in his eccentricity, which is not coincidental since Collins and Dickens were friends.

Where The Moonstone and The Woman in White take suspense and blend in mystery and a tad of the supernatural, No Name is more of suspense with a moral issue attached. Similar to Dickens, Collins tended to produce books in serial form where there are many tiny episodes and a cliffhanger towards the end of the chapters. The writing in No Name reflects this type of format, but there are also letters written from one character to another to help the plot progress along. This is an interesting device because you get into each of the character's heads as the plot thickens.

Over all, any fan of Victorian literature or Dickens will enjoy No Name. The more I read Wilkie Collins, the more I want to read other books by him. It's too bad that this book has been so neglected and overlooked, and not mentioned when the word "classic" is thrown around by scholars and readers. This novel would also make for a fantastic film (as long as the producers didn't mess up the story).

Great book! Highly recommended!

The Best of Collins' work! - I adore Wilkie Collins. This book surpasses his others, most of which are exciting, original, passionate, suspenseful and richly textured. If you read only one Collins, it should be this one. Magdalene is one of the most fascinating and compelling characters ever created, and Captain and Mrs. Wragge, Madame LeCompte and Noel Vanstone are nearly as intriguing. Obviously, I can't recommend it enough!

WHAT A BOOK!! - I am happy to be the first person to review this book in this format. I had never seen a fiction book this size (like a textbook) but it was very easy to read. On to the book--this book has moved to the list of my all time favorites! There are so many twists and turns in this book it is unbelievalbe. I loved the book. Being a Wilkie Collins fan already I knew I would like the book but I was totally unprepared at how the story developed. It is most certainly worth your time. Enjoy this wonderful read!!

A virtually unknown masterpiece, and a new favourite for a picky reader - 4.5/5 stars

After the untimely death of their parents, the Vanstone sisters, Norah and Magdalen, face the stark reality of social stigma in Victorian England. Orphaned and penniless, they learn the devastating truth - they are illegitimate (children with "no name", hence the title of the book). And due to an anomaly in their father's will, the entirety of his wealth and estate is legally entailed away to their heartless uncle, who has no regard for their futures.

Vastly different in temperament, the elder sister, Norah calmly accepts her change in circumstance, resigned to accept work as a governess, while independent and scheming Magdalen refuses to accept the fate that their uncle has bestowed upon them and sets out on her own, vowing revenge.

To carry out her complex strategy of retribution, Magdalen enlists the assistance of the wily Captain Wragge, a distant relation and a self-confessed defrauder, who proves to be a comic relief with a tender humane heart at the core. Readers will be delighted to discover Wragge is just as memorable as many of Dickens' likable miscreants (not unlike Little Dorrit's Mr. Pancks).

Wragge and Magdalen face an uphill battle of wits, trying to outsmart the ruthlessly sharp Mrs. Lecount, the controlling and manipulative housekeeper of the will's beneficiary, Noel Vanstone. While Norah dutifully carries on with her life without incident, the intrepid Magdalen continues on with her quest for justice - at any expense - culminating in a surprise ending.

Perfectly plotted, though admittedly a tad bit slow at the outset, 'No Name' is a treat for any classics lover and is well worth the time invested in its 700+ pages. Highly recommended!

No Name - The book was in excellent shape but the size is too big. It's difficult to read because of the size. Why would anyone print a book 8"x10".