The Moonstone
by Wilkie Collins
There was general agreement that this book was certainly of its time –
for the well-heeled reader each substantial chunk would have been eagerly anticipated and devoured with relish as it appeared in Dickens’ “All Year Round” magazine.
For some modern readers it is far too verbose and would have benefitted from some rigorous editing.
Nonetheless all agreed that it was a good story despite certain implausibilities of plot and characterization.
Although some of the characters may be seen as stereotypes they are certainly well-developed and interesting.
We particularly enjoyed Betteredge with his affection for his pipe and “Robinson Crusoe” and Miss Clack.
Collins takes the opportunity to have some fun with the type of individuals whose public piety scarcely conceals their hypocrisy.
Many elements of the novel have become essential aspects of later detective stories and all is set within a moral framework so that we can rejoice that the Moonstone is restored in the end to its rightful place.
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