Collins, Wilkie |
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BORN 8 Jan 1824, London: 11 New Cavendish Street, Marylebone (now: 96-100 New Cavendish Street) - DIED 23 Sep 1889, London: 2 Wimpole Street BIRTH NAME Collins, William Wilkie GRAVE LOCATION London: Kensal Green Cemetery, Harrow Road, Kensal Green (141/PS (31754)) |
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Wilkie Collins was the son of the landscape painter William Collins RA. He studied law before turning his full attention to writing. In 1845 his first novel was refused by Chapman & Hall. After exhibiting a painting at the Royal Acadcemy in 1849 his novel "Antonina" was published in 1850. In the same year he was painted by the young John Everett Millais. In 1851 Collins met Charles Dickens and they soon became friends. They travelled together in the UK and in France and Collins published his stories in Dickens' Household Words. They also shared a fascination for theatre and in 1855 Collins' play "The Lighthouse" was staged by Dickens' theatre group, followed in 1857 by "The Frozen Deep". Later that year "The Lighthouse" was staged at the Olympia Theatre. In 1871 "The Woman in White" could be seen at the same theatre and in 1879 Ada Cavendish played "Miss Gwilt" in New York (Miss Lydia Gwilt was one of the main characters of "Armadale"). Collins' most famous novel, "The Moonstone" (1868) is regarded as the first real British detective novel. Before that "The Woman in White" (1860) had already been a huge success. In his later books he paid more attention to social issues like separations (in "Man and Wife") and vivisection (in "Heart and Science", 1883). In 1873-1874 he gave readings of his work in the USA. The unconventional Collins never married, but lived for many years with Caroline Graves and had three children with Martha Rudd. He was a very famous man in his days but often suffered from poor health. Since 1853 he suffered from gout and he used large quantities of laudanum against the pain for many years. In July, 1889, The Times wrote that Queen Victoria 'had made special inquiries as to his health". Collins died in September of that year and was buried according to his explicit wishes in a simple grave in Kensal Green Cemetery in London. Further novels: "Basil" (1852); "Hide and Seek" (1854); "No Name" (1863); "Armadale" (1866). Family • Father: Collins, William • Brother: Collins, Charles Allston Related persons • cooperated with Bentley, Richard • has a connection with Besant, Walter • was a friend of Cavendish, Ada • is brother/sister of Collins, Charles Allston • was a friend of Dickens, Charles • had work illustrated by Du Maurier, George • was a friend of Egg, Augustus Leopold • knew Eliot, George • was a friend of Frith, William Powell • lived with Graves, Caroline Elizabeth • was a friend of Lear, Edward • has a connection with Leclercq, Rose • knew Lewes, George Henry • was a friend of Loudon, Agnes • was painted by Millais, John • visited Ouida • was a friend of Roosevelt, Blanche • corresponded with Schlesinger, Sebastian • corresponded with Webster, Benjamin Nottingham Events |
| 13/1/1835 | Wilkie Collins enters Maida Hill Academy |
| 0/8/1843 | "The Last Stage Coachman" by Wilkie Collins is published in "The Illuminated Magazine" |
| 8/3/1845 | Wilkie Collins' first novel is refused by Chapman & Hall. The story was set in Tahiti. He had sent it to Chapman & Hall in January. |
| 17/5/1846 | Wilkie Collins is admitted as a student to Lincoln's Inn |
| 23/2/1847 | Burial of William Collins at Paddington Green Churchyard. At the Saint Mary on Paddington Green Churchyard in London. He was buried in the grave where his mother Margaret and his brother Frank were buried before. Among those present were his wife Harriet, his sons Wilkie and Charles, the painters Thomas Uwins and Charles Leslie and his friend Joseph Bullar as well as his brother John Bullar. [Collins, Charles Allston][Collins, William][Leslie, Charles] |
| 0/0/1849 | Wilkie Collins exhibits a painting at the summer exhibition of the Royal Academy |
| 27/2/1850 | Wilkie Collins' first novel "Antonina" is published |
| 0/1/1851 | "Rables beyond Railways" by Wilkie Collins is published. It was an account of his travels in Cornwall. |
| 12/3/1851 | First meeting between Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins. The meeting took place at the house of John Forster after Augustus Egg had had recruited Collins for Dickens' amateur theatrical company. [Dickens, Charles][Egg, Augustus Leopold] |
| 0/1/1852 | Wilkie Collin's "Mr. Wray's Cash Box" is published. It had a cover illustration by John Millais. [Millais, John] |
| 24/1/1852 | For the first time a story of Wilkie Collins appears in Household Words. It was the story "A Terribly Strange Bed". |
| 16/11/1852 | Wilkie Collins' novel "Basil" is publised |
| 5/6/1854 | Wilkie Collins' novel "Hide and Seek" is published |
| 16/1/1855 | Wilkie Collins' play "The Lighthouse" is first performed. It was performed at Travistock House by the theatre group that was led by Charles Dickens |
| 0/2/1856 | "After Dark" by Wilkie Collins is published. It was a volume of short stories. |
| 6/1/1857 | "The Frozen Deep" by Wilkie Collins is performed by Charles Dickens' theatre group. It was the first of four semi-public performances at Tavistock House, Dickens' home in London. About ninety people were present. [Dickens, Charles] |
| 1/6/1857 | "The Dead Secret" by Wilkie Collins is published in book form. It had been published serially in "Household Words" from 3 Jan to 13 Jun 1857. |
| 0/8/1857 | Wilkie Collins' play "The Lighthouse" is performed at the Olympia Theatre |
| 21/8/1857 | Wilkie Collins' play "The Frozen Deep" is performed three times in Manchester at the Free Trade Hall. Dickens played the main part in the play that was written by his friend and the public was completely under his spell. The second night was attended by 3,000 people. He had hired the actress Frances Ternan together with her daughters Maria and Ellen. Ellen was so impressed by the scene in which Dickens died that her tears fell on his beard and his clothes. The performances were given August 21, 22 and 24. [Dickens, Charles][Ternan, Ellen][Ternan, Maria Susanna] |
| 11/10/1858 | "The Red Vial" by Wilkie Collins is produced at the Olympic Theatre. Frederick Robson was Hans Grimm and Fanny Stirling was Madame Bergman. Collins later used the plot for his novel "Jezebel's Daughter" (1880). It ran for four weeks. As far as known it wasn't performed again until Caroline Radcliffe staged it in 2011 with the Department of Drama and Theatre Arts of Birmingham University. [Stirling, Fanny] |
| 16/5/1859 | Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins dine at Vereys in Regent Street, London [Dickens, Charles] |
| 26/11/1859 | Start of the serial publication of "The Woman in White" by Wilkie Collins in "All The Year Round" |
| 14/8/1860 | "The Woman in White" by Wilkie Collins is published |
| 4/9/1860 | Wilkie Collins leaves London to stay in Gloucester for a week |
| 15/3/1862 | Start of serial publication of "No Name" by Wilkie Collins in "All The Year Round. The last part appeared on 17 Jan 1863. |
| 31/12/1863 | "No Name" by Wilkie Collins is published in book form |
| 15/5/1866 | "Armadale" by Wilkie Collins is published in two volumes |
| 4/1/1868 | Start of the serial publication of "The Moonstone" by Wilkie Collins in "All the Year Round". The last part was published on 8 Aug 1868. |
| 1/7/1868 | "The Moonstone" by Wilkie Collins is published in book form in three volumes |
| 0/10/1871 | Wilkie Collins' play "The Woman in White" is performed at the Olympia Theatre |
| 13/9/1873 | Wilkie Collins leaves for the USA. Before he left he drew up a will in which he provided for Martha Rudd as well as for Caroline Graves. |
| 27/9/1873 | Wilkie Collins is guest of honour at the Lotos Club in New York City |
| 18/3/1874 | Wilkie Collins lands in Liverpool, returning from the USA |
| 9/12/1875 | First performance of Wilkie Collins' play "Lydia Gwilt" at the Alexandra Theatre in Liverpool. It was a stage adaption of the novel "Armadale". Lydia Gwilt was more sympathetic than in the novel and now Dr Downward was the main villain. |
| 15/4/1876 | First performance in London of Wilkie Collins' play "Miss Gwilt" at the Globe Theatre. Ada Cavendish played the title part and Mr Darch was played by A.W. Pinero. [Cavendish, Ada] |
| 29/8/1877 | Wilkie Collins' play "The Dead Secret" is first performed at the Royal Lyceum Theatre in London. E.J. Bramwell had adapted Collin's novel for the stage with permission by the author. The actors included Miss Bateman and Arthur Wing Pinero. |
| 5/6/1879 | Ada Cavendish plays Miss Gwilt in New York at Wallack's Theatre. "Miss Gwilt" was the stage adaption of Wilkie Collins' novel "Armadale". The play was produced for three weeks and didn't return after that. In London it had been staged for twelve weeks. [Cavendish, Ada] |
| 16/5/1883 | "Heart and Science" by Wilkie Collins is published in book form. It had been serially published in Belgravia Magazine from Aug 1882 until June 1883. |
| 15/7/1889 | Queen Victoria inquires about the health of Wilkie Collins. "The Times" of 15 Jul 1889 stated that 'The Queen has made special inquiries as to his health'. |
| 27/9/1889 | Wilkie Collins is buried at Kensal Green Cemetery. According to his wishes he was buried in a simple grave. Among those present were his niece Jane Ward, Holman-Hunt, Pigott, George Redford, Edmund Yates, Charles Dickens the Younger, Frank Beard, Caroline Graves, Ada Cavendish, Arthur Pinero, Squire Bancroft, Sebastian Schlesinger, Andrew Chatto, A.P. Watt, Hall Caine and Edmund Gosse. In 1895 Caroline Graves was buried in the same grave. [Bancroft, Squire ][Cavendish, Ada][Dickens, Charles Culliford Boz][Graves, Caroline Elizabeth][Hunt, William Holman][Schlesinger, Sebastian] |
| 0/0/1890 | "Blind Love" by Wilkie Collins is published. Collins had died before it was finished and Walter Besant had completed the story. [Besant, Walter ] |
| Images | ||
 Wilkie Collins' grave at Kensal Green Cemetery, London. His companion Caroline Graves was buried beside him. Picture by Androom (11 Dec 1993) |
 Wilkie Collins painted by John Everett Millais (1850, National Portrait Gallery, London). (1850) |
 The grave of Wilkie Collins at Kensal Green Cemetery, London. Picture by Androom (26 Jun 2009) |
 The grave of Wilkie Collins at Kensal Green Cemetery, London. Picture by Androom (17 Aug 2017) |
Sources • Clarke, William M., The Secret Life of Wilkie Collins, Allison & Busby/W.H. Allen, London, 1988 • Peters, Catherine, The King of Inventors, A Life of Wilkie Collins, Seeker & Warburg, London, 1991 • Storey, Graham (ed.), The Letters of Charles Dickens, Vol. IX 1859-1861, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1997 • The Private Library, Third Series, Volume 3:2, The Private Libraries Association, Pinner, Middlesex, 1980 • The Frozen Deep - Wikipedia (EN) • Wilkie Collins - Wikipedia (EN) • ARMADALE • DEAD SECRET • WILKIE COLLINS AND CHARLES DICKENS |
