Dream Women (ePub)

William Wilkie Collins (1824-1889) was a pioneering English novelist, playwright, and short story writer. He is best known for his work in the genre that we might today call 'sensation fiction,' exemplified by his famous novels 'The Woman in White' (1860) and 'The Moonstone' (1868), which is often considered the first detective novel in the English language. Collins's writing style is characterized by tension and suspense, intricate plotting, and legal and psychological intrigue. His works often challenge the social norms of his time, particularly concerning the institution of marriage and the plight of women in Victorian society. 'Dream Women,' although not as well-known as his novels, is a testament to Collins's fascination with the supernatural and the impact of dreams on the human psyche. Spanning novels, stories, and plays, his extensive oeuvre includes other notable works such as 'No Name' (1862) and 'Armadale' (1866). Collins was an intimate friend of Charles Dickens and collaborated with him. He never married but led a life that, like his novels, did not conform to the Victorian ideals of respectability, which further enriched the depth and complexity of his literary output. His contributions to literature extended beyond his own works; as an influence on later writers, Collins's innovations in the suspense and crime genres set the stage for modern mystery and detective fiction.