Considered to be one the first mystery novels and best in the genre of sensation novels which was a forerunner of detective and suspense fiction. Written as a epistolary novel in a magazine series, the story is told with letters, diaries, newspaper clippings, and other documents to give a realistic feel. The first of many screen adaptations was a 1912 American Silent Film. To date the BBC has broadcasted two miniseries adaptations. Wilkie Collins was an English novelist, playright and author of short stories. He lived January 8, 1824 – September 23, 1889, and was a lifelong friend of Charles Dickens.Enjoy this wonderful bit of melodrama with actor Tod Slaughter's "gloriously uninhibitied" performance as the unspeakable Sir Henry Glyde. I tried to post this under the Review section but it was rejected as "invalid review" no matter how many times I altered it. :(