Poor Miss Finch

By: Wilkie Collins

Narrated by: Marry Floyd

"Poor Miss Finch" by Wilkie Collins is a novel about a wealthy, but blind girl who temporarily regains her sight while being in a romantic triangle with two brothers. Lucilla Finch (21) has been blind since infancy. Shortly after the narrator, Madame Pratolungo, arrives to serve as her paid companion, Lucilla falls in love with Oscar Dubourg, her shy and solitary neighbor, also wealthy, who devotes himself to craftsmanship in precious metals.

After being attacked and knocked unconscious by robbers, Oscar is nursed by Lucilla and falls in love with her, and the couple become engaged. Their plans are jeopardized by Oscar's epilepsy, a result of the blow to his head. The only effective treatment, a silver compound, has the side-effect of turning his skin a permanent, dark blue-grey. Despite her blindness, Lucilla suffers a violent phobia of dark colors, and family and friends conceal Oscar's condition from her. Meanwhile, Oscar's twin brother, Nugent, returns from America...

Wilkie Collins (1824-1889) was an English novelist, playwright, and short story writer. His best-known works are "The Woman in White", and "The Moonstone", which was the first modern English detective novel.©2018 Audioliterature (P)2018 Audioliterature

Entertaining story but didn't care for narration

I have enjoyed other Wilkie Collins books and this story draws you in. This was especially important because the narration was not at all what I like. It's a reading with a dramatic twist which is overkill in my opinion. The voices are sometimes shrill. I almost returned it. I appreciate a simple reading with some inflection and changes in voices.
But I got drawn into the story and wanted to hear the end. Would recommend finding a different narrator if possible.

Worthy Victorian Story/ Excellent Narration

Wilkie Collins tale which explores the variety of psychological drivers of human behavior. The storyline, which at points, like other serial novels of it's time, strains credulity, nonetheless swiftly carries one along an enjoyable and compelling path. As to the narration, I consider myself a sensitive listener and not once , as a previous reviewer mentioned, did I find the narrator to be shrill. This is a dramatic story and the narrator expressed emotions natural to those scenes. The narration enriched the story. Overall worth a listen if you enjoy W. C. and his period style of writing.