Wilkie Collins

The Queen of Hearts Wilkie Collins

Collection of ten short stories set within the connecting narrative of 'The Queen of Hearts'. Dedicated to Emile Forgues. 'The Queen of Hearts' is the school nickname of Jessie Yelverton who arranges to stay for six weeks with her elderly guardian, Griffith, a retired lawyer. Griffith lives with his two brothers, Owen the clergyman and Morgan the doctor, in an isolated house in South Wales. Griffith's son, George, is in love with Jessie and the three brothers set out to delay her departure for ten days so that George can propose on his return from the Crimean war. In a kind of Arabian Nights story-telling, the three brothers draw on their professional experiences to entertain their young guest with a different story each evening: Brother Owen's Story of The Black Cottage Brother Griffith's Story of The Family Secret Brother Morgan's Story of The Dream Woman (The Ostler) Brother Griffith's Story of Mad Monkton Brother Morgan's Story of The Dead Hand Brother Griffith's Story of The Biter Bit Brother Owen's Story of The Parson's Scruple Brother Griffith's Story of A Plot in Private Life Brother Morgan's Story of Fauntleroy Brother Owen's Story of Anne Rodway