Wilkie Collins novel Basil was his second lengthy fiction work published
in 1852 devoted to Charles Ward. It was his first modern novel. An early
novel by Wilkie Collins, 'Basil' depicts the story of a young gentleman
from a rich traditional family. Basil falls in love at first sight with
the beautiful seventeen-year-old Margaret Sherwin. The daughter of a
tanner, Margaret belongs to a much lower social status than Basil.
Basil's father is a very reputated man and, knowing his father's
hostility towards those who marry below their status, Basil keeps his
affair a secret -even from Clara, the sister he loves. When Basil meets
Margaret's father and tells his desire to marry her. Mr. Sherwin takes a
promise from Basil that he will marry Margaret at once but will not
accomplish the marriage for a year and during the period Margaret will
stay back to his home. Astonishingly, Basil accepts all these
conditions, he intensely adores Margaret, he marries her and meets her
daily. Whilst he is visiting Margaret he becomes familiar with his
father-in-law's chief clerk, Mr. Mannion, a very gentle good-looking
middle-aged man who appears to have a impressive effect on Margaret and
her mother. But is the pretty Margaret as attractive and virtuous as she
appears?
