Mysteries: The Law and The Lady by Wagner & Seiter (French book)

1875, England. Valeria Brinton, a young and beautiful woman, just married the charming Eustace Woodville. It was love at first sight. The spouses are very attached to each other and everything seems perfect about this newlywed couple. Suddenly, the young woman discovers some deep hidden secrets who become a constant reminder how little she knows her husband.

Their marriage was not approved by her husband’s family who refused to attend to their wedding and even Valeria’s uncles were not happy about this situation.

During the first days of their honeymoon, she accidentally meets her mother-in-law and finds out her husband uses a false name. Why is he hiding his true identity?! Troubled by so many mysteries, the young woman decides to take the matters on her own hands and find out the truth. But everything is much more complex than she ever imagined…

This is the 1st volume of the French historical comic series, Mysteries: Seule contre la loi (The Law and The Lady) freely adapted from Wilkie Collins‘ book with the same name. The author even shows up during the story as an old friend of the heroine.

When I picked it up at the library, I just wanted a comic who would be quick to read and interesting enough to hold my attention. I previously read The Woman in White and Moonstone by Collins and really enjoyed both. This was another opportunity to get to know the author a little better and I’ll definately read The Law and The Lady in a near future.

If completely in love for Eustace, Valeria knows she cannot rest until she finds out the reasons of so many mysteries. She’s brave and independent and doesn’t scare off easily.

Her husband, in the other hand, never really tries to explain the reasons of his lies. He just abandons his wife to her fate thinking he is doing a huge sacrifice leaving her alone. I do understand Eustace has reasons to think no one will believe him but he gives up easily, especially with someone he loves so much (or he says so).

The drawing style can be sometimes a bit too schematic concerning the characters’ faces but Wagner manages very well to show all the emotions with every stroke. A special note about the Victorian clothes, hairdos or even the architecture details which were a real pleasure to admire.

I noticed my library had the 2nd volume so I’ll bring it home as soon as possible. Can’t wait to see what happens next!

Grade: 4/5

The Woman In White by Wilkie Collins

A mysterious figure in white appears on Hampstead Heath, before the
narration moves to a large North Country house. Sections of the storyline are taken up by a variety of characters, through whose eyes we experience events in this romantic, gothic thriller.

I had read The Woman in White in my teens and now I had only a vague idea of the plot so I decided to read it again.

Wilkie Collins writes an intriguing and engaging story. From the moment when Walter Hartright meets a mysterious woman in white running away from a private asylum and helps her, we are drawn into the puzzle of who she is. After Walter arrives at his next employment, it becomes apparent that there must be some relationship between the woman and Laura Fairlie, for whom Walter falls in love. And after Laura married the man her late father had destined to her and Walter leaves the country to forget her it seems apparent that Laura’s Husband and his friend Count Fosco are involved in a mystery of their own.

As soon as Laura marries Sir Percival Glyde and they return from their honeymoon to live with her sister Marian Halcombe it is apparent that Sir Percival’s main interest is his wife’s money and he will do all in his power to get it, dutifully aided by Fosco.

I think one of the main attractions is how the story is written. It is presented as a series of letters by some of the most prominent intervenients in the action so the point of view differs according to who is remembering the events. While it was sometimes frustrating to read how easy it was for the conspirators to fool everyone it was also an interesting exercise to read about everyone’s thoughts and how they had different voices.

I must say that I found Marian to be the most appealing character; she is strong, sensible and determined where Laura always seems too distant. While she and the woman in white are the key to the whole conspiracy she seems more like an object of adoration up in its pedestal than an active participant. Marian and the sinister Count Fosco are definitely the characters that I most vividly remembered after closing the book. Wilkie Collins is great at plotting and keeping us in suspense until the end when everything is revealed.

Grade: 4.5/5