Broadview Literary Texts: Heart and Science

Viac o knihe

Wilkie Collins’s later novels often address social issues alongside storytelling, and many critics argue that his best works remain as engaging and thought-provoking today as when they were first published. This is especially true for his 1883 novel, which Collins himself regarded as comparable to his masterpiece. The narrative centers on Carmina Graywell, an orphan under the control of her aunt, Mrs. Gallilee, while her fiancé seeks treatment in Canada. Mrs. Gallilee schemes to manipulate and ultimately harm the strong-willed Carmina over her inheritance. Complicating matters is Dr. Benjulia, a dark genius whose obsession with brain diseases leads him to exacerbate Carmina’s life-threatening condition for scientific observation. The story builds to two climactic scenes filled with tension. Collins passionately addresses the debate over vivisection, inspired by a sensational trial in the 1880s involving a doctor acquitted of animal cruelty charges for live experimentation. The edition includes excerpts from contemporary accounts of this trial, documents related to the vivisection controversy, and various reviews. With its themes of strong-willed women and vivisection, the novel resonates with modern readers, reflecting current animal welfare and rights debates.