The Moonstone: Wordsworth Classics Edition

Tác giả: Wilkie Collins
ISNB: 9781853260445
Tình trạng: Sách tốt, 460 trang khổ 12.5X20cm

The Moonstone is one of the first detective mystery books ever written. It begins with a prologue telling the story of the Moonstone. The Moonstone is a large yellow diamond, set in the head of a statue of the Moon God. It received it's name because it is said to wax and wane with the moon, as well as it's peculiar color. The Moonstone was such a precious item, that it was to be watched at all times by three priests in turn, night and day, to the end of the generations of man.

This book is written with many different characters of the book narrating. The first to narrate is Gabriel Betteredge, a servant, and close family friend.
The Moonstone was stolen many times, and finally ended up in the hands of John Herncastle. After his death, his will intrusted the Moonstone to his niece, Rachel Verinder. Her cousin, Franklin Blake, delivered it to her on her birthday. After the party, most people leave except for her family members. The Moonstone is hidden by Rachel, and then everyone goes to bed. In the morning, they find the Moonstone to be gone, stolen."The Moonstone will have its vengeance yet on you and yours!" As the quote says, the Moonstone will have it's vengeance, and so it has. The police are called, but nothing is figured out. They bring in a detective, Sergeant Cuff, to try to figure out more then the police did. Cuff suspects Rosanna Spearman, a servant and former thief. Cuff tracks Rosanna, and finds she went to great lengths to hide a package, and then commits suicide. Sergeant Cuff suspects Rachel of being in on the theft of her own diamond. This doesn't go over well, and he is dismissed from the case. Rachel's mother then moves the family to London in hopes of moving on, and forgetting the whole business of the diamond.

The next character to narrate is Miss Clack, a relative of Rachel's, and a very dedicated Christian.
After moving to London, Lady Verinder, Rachel's mother, dies. Rachel's cousin Godfrey Ablewhite proposes to her. Rachel reluctantly agrees, but then breaks off the engagement after hearing Godfrey was marrying her for her money. Mr. Bruff, Rachel's lawyer, has tracked the Moonstone to the bank of Septimus Luker. Septimus is a moneylender, and has had the diamond pledged to him.

Franklin Blake is the next narrator of the story.
We find out that Rosanna Spearman had left an explanation, in a letter to Franklin, as to why she was to commit suicide. The reason for her taking her own life? She was in love with Franklin Blake, and knew that he was the one who stole the Moonstone. Franklin doesn't remember himself taking the diamond, but after interviewing Rachel, he finds out he really did. After hearing this, Franklin immediately tries to find how he could have stolen the diamond and not remembered. Ezra Jennings, an assistant to the doctor Mr. Candy, is the one to figure out how this happened. On the night of Rachel's birthday, Mr. Candy and Franklin had been arguing about the importance of modern medicine. To prove his point, Mr. Candy gives Franklin a dose of opium without him knowing. This helped Franklin sleep, but caused him to steal the diamond without consciously knowing what he was doing. Franklin, along with Ezra and many other people, proved this to be true by giving Franklin a dose of opium under the same circumstances. Rachel forgives Franklin, and they become engaged. Franklin then goes back to London, and with the help of Sergeant Cuff and Mr. Bruff, they track down the person who pledged the diamond to Septimus Luker.Who took the diamond from Franklin Blake the night he stole it? Who pledged it to Septimus Luker? If you want answers to these questions, you'll have to read the book for yourself.