The Law and the Lady by Wilkie Collins was published in 1875. As in many of Collins' novels, it deals with themes considered sensational or scandalous by Victorian society, and features a strong-willed, intelligent woman unwilling to be bound by society's conventional attitudes. It also treats the subject of disability with some compassion, featuring a man born without legs as a major character. The novel, told in the first person by a young woman named Valeria Brinton, begins with her wedding to a somewhat older man, Eustace Woodville. After their honeymoon, she accidentally discovers that he has married her under a false name. When she pursues this issue, Eustace leaves her, pleading with her not to follow him or ask for more details. There's obviously a dark secret in his past, and ignoring his pleas, Valeria pushes on to seek the truth. Wilkie Collins (died 1889) was one of the most distinguished authors of the Victorian age. Their work has endured across generations and continues to be read and studied worldwide. As a work of classic literary fiction, The Law And The Lady exemplifies the narrative craft and social insight that defined great storytelling of its era. Literary fiction of this period was characterized by careful attention to character psychology, social milieu, and the moral questions that animated public discourse.
