Man and Wife

Published in 1870, 'Man and Wife' by Wilkie Collins is a sensation novel that critiques the inequitable marriage laws of Victorian Britain. The story follows Anne Silvester, who faces the complexities of love and betrayal when she believes she may have inadvertently entered into a form of marriage with a friend of her intended. As the narrative unfolds, it delves into the emotional turmoil and societal constraints surrounding marriage, culminating in a tense atmosphere filled with confinement and plotting. Collins uses this work to highlight social issues, particularly the archaic Scots marriage law, making it a significant commentary on the era's legal and moral landscape.