Hide and Seek
Hide and Seek (1854) is a novel by Wilkie Collins. Written in the aftermath of Antonina (1850), his successful debut, Hide and Seek finds the author honing the trademark sense of mystery and psychological unease that would make him a household name around the world. Recognized as an important Victorian novelist and pioneer of detective fiction, Wilkie Collins was a writer with a gift for thoughtful entertainment, stories written for a popular audience that continue to resonate with scholars and readers today. Mary Grice, a young woman of wealth and social standing, becomes pregnant after a brief affair with a man calling himself Arthur Carr. Banished from her home, she dies during childbirth in the care of a group of circus performers, who adopt the baby as their own. Raised by Martha Peckover, the wife of a clown, young Mary is exploited by the circus owner following an accident with a horse, which leaves her deaf and mute. In order to save her, Martha brings Mary to a minister, who ensures she is adopted into a good home. Taken in by the Blyth family, Mary becomes known as Madonna for her beauty and grace, and soon catches the eye of Zack Thorpe. As the story unfolds, a mystery involving Mary’s father begins to take shape, with implications for her blossoming romance with Zack. Beyond its sensational plot, Hide and Seek is a masterpiece of Gothic suspense and mystery for seasoned readers of Victorian fiction and newcomers alike. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Wilkie Collins’ Hide and Seek is a classic work of English literature reimagined for modern readers.