DEATH OF WILLIAM WILKIE COLLINS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8586, 25 September 1889, Page 2

DEATH OF WILLIAM WILKIE COLLINS.

[PBB PR&bS ASSOOIAIION,] London, September 23.— Mr William Wilkie Collins, the well-known novelist, died to-day, at the age of 65 years. William Wilkie Collins was the son of the late William Collins, R.A., who in the early part of this century obtained no small distinction as on artist. The deceased author was beat known by hie seoond name, " Wilkie," and was born in 1824. He lived for some time in Italy, and was there engaged in commerce. He then came to London, and studied for the law in Lincoln's Inn. His first literary work wan a biography of his father, which he published in 1848. In 1850 he produced "Antonia; or the Fall of Rome;" and in 1852 he r rote "Rambles beyond Railways." In 1852, "Basil" (a Btory of modern life), a very powerfully written novel, appeared, whioh brought Mr Collins* name prominently before the public; and tbe same year he wrote a Christmas story, "Mr Wray's Cash Box." His next were " Hide and Seek " (1854); " After Dark " (1856); "The Dead Secret " (1857); "The Queen of Hearts " (1859) ; and " The Woman in White" (I860). The lastnamed novel created a great sensation, and the author's name was then made. Since then Mr Collins has written a large number of novels of the sensational school, the best being considered to be " Man and Wife," '« The New Magdalen," "No Name," "Poor Miss Finch," and " Armadale." He was a great friend of Charles Dickens, and when the authors started a "Literary Guild," to raise funds for the erection of alinshouseß, Mr Collins wrote two dramae, " The Frozen Deep" and " The Lighthouse," in whioh the authors all took parts.