Basil (novel)

Basil is a Gothic novel written by Wilkie Collins, first published in 1852. It is notable as being Collins' second published novel, and a departure from his earlier historical fiction. Basil explores themes of class, identity, revenge, and the corrupting nature of obsession.

The novel is narrated in the first person by Basil, the son of an aristocratic but impoverished family, the Armadale family. He falls deeply in love with Margaret Sherwin, a draper's daughter, despite his father's strict social prejudices. Against his family's wishes, Basil marries Margaret in secret. However, on their wedding night, Basil discovers Margaret has betrayed him with his friend Mannion.

Consumed by rage and a desire for revenge, Basil dedicates himself to ruining Mannion's life. The pursuit of this revenge drives the plot forward, leading Basil down a path of moral degradation and ultimately to a confrontation that reveals the dark secrets and hidden connections underlying the characters' lives.

The novel's intense psychological exploration of Basil's character, combined with its themes of forbidden love and social commentary, positions it as an early example of sensation fiction, a genre that Collins would later perfect with novels like The Woman in White and The Moonstone. Basil is considered a significant work in the development of Collins' signature style and a precursor to his later successes.