Basil

Basil tells the harrowing tale of a privileged young man who recklessly weds a lower-class woman, only to uncover a devastating secret that threatens his sanity and future. In a world bound by rigid social codes, his obsession leads to a descent marked by violence, guilt, and a dark reckoning. The accompanying novellas amplify Collinss early mastery of psychological tension and moral ambiguity, ranging from tales of domestic unease to moments of quiet horror. Together, these stories unveil hidden motives and the cost of emotional blindness. With rich atmosphere and an unflinching look at Victorian hypocrisy, this collection offers a window into the origins of modern psychological fiction.

William Wilkie Collins (1824-1889) was an English novelist and playwright, best known for The Woman in White and The Moonstone. In Collins second novel, the well-born Basil falls for Margaret on first seeing her. Her linen-draper father agrees to Basil marrying Margaret - but he insists that the wedding must take place immediately and that Basil must then keep the marriage secret for a whole year, not even seeing his wife unless Mr. or Mrs. Sherwin are present. This volume also contains Mrs. Zant and the Ghost, Miss Morris and the Stranger, and Mr. Lismore and the Widow.