Basil · Chapters

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Chapter companions for Basil by Wilkie Collins.

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Chapter 1
Letter of Dedication
In this prefatory letter, Wilkie Collins dedicates 'Basil' to his friend Charles James Ward, reflecting on the novel's origins in real life, its defense against charges of impropriety, and its eventual success. He articulates his literary philosophy, emphasizing the importance of grounding fiction in reality while also employing extraordinary events to engage readers' deeper emotions. Collins also addresses critics who misunderstood the book's moral purpose, asserting his commitment to portraying vice with its true consequences.
Chapter 2
Basil Part I
Basil begins his narrative, describing his family and his first meeting with Margaret in an omnibus. He is immediately captivated by her, and despite the social differences, he seeks her out. He avoids Clara and leaves London, eventually marrying Margaret. He is introduced to Mr. Mannion, and later overhears Margaret's quarrel. Clara visits Basil in his lodging, and Ralph offers to help him. Basil discovers Margaret's betrayal, receives Mannion's letter from the hospital, and experiences Margaret's death. He suffers an illness and recovery, and finally returns to Cornwall.
Chapter 3
I
Basil begins his narrative on his twenty-fourth birthday, living in seclusion in a Cornish fishing hamlet. He explains his purpose: to write the story of a year of his life, an error with innocent beginnings and fatal results, hoping it will be read charitably after his death. He lives under the threat of an unknown enemy and reflects on his solitude.
Chapter 4
II
Basil continues his narrative, explaining his family background and education. He is the second son of a wealthy English gentleman, with an elder brother and a younger sister. His mother died after giving birth to the youngest. He was educated at public school and college, where he became disillusioned with the sycophancy and class distinctions. He chose the bar as a profession to facilitate his literary ambitions, and he enjoys financial independence, allowing him to pursue literature without the struggle for bread.
Chapter 5
III
Basil reflects on his father's character, describing him as the proudest man he ever knew. His father's pride is not conventional but is a quiet, inbred pride based on ancestry rather than rank. Basil illustrates this with an anecdote where his father, at a dinner, prioritizes a penniless Abbe of ancient lineage over a newly ennobled merchant. Basil also describes his father's demeanor towards his family—distant, formal, and never intimate—and his special gallantry towards his sister.

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Letter of Dedication

Basil Part I

I

II

III