The Dead Secret
Published in 1857, The Dead Secret is a gothic fiction novel by Wilkie Collins. The story is set in England and Cornwall, County, in the 19th century. It deals with inheritance and succession, mothers and daughters, illegitimate children and unmarried mothers.
Open Library readers give it an average of 4.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, and 50 more have it on their want-to-read list. It has been published in 167 editions across 4 languages. On Project Gutenberg it was downloaded 1,256 times in the last 30 days.
At about 359 pages, most readers finish it in 6–7 hours. It is in the public domain, so you can read it free on Project Gutenberg or listen to the 16 h 18 min LibriVox audiobook.
About The Dead Secret
"The Dead Secret: A Novel" by Wilkie Collins is a novel published in 1857. A dying woman's confession sets a devastating secret in motion—one that reveals the true parentage of Rosamond Treverton, raised as a wealthy heiress at Porthgenna Tower. Twenty years later, a hidden letter threatens to unravel everything when Rosamond and her blind husband Leonard return to the estate. As the truth emerges, questions of inheritance, legitimacy, and acceptance hang in the balance in this early sensation novel.
Free audiobook
The Dead Secret — LibriVox recording, 16 h 18 min in 29 sections.
Public-domain recording by volunteer readers. Listen online, download MP3s or stream from the Internet Archive.
Opening line
“'WILL she last out the night, I wonder?'”
Quick answers
Who wrote The Dead Secret?
The Dead Secret was written by Wilkie Collins and first published in 1857.
What genre is The Dead Secret?
It is usually shelved as Gothic Fiction.
How long is The Dead Secret?
The median edition has 359 pages, about 6–7 hours of reading at 250 words per minute.
Is The Dead Secret free to read?
Yes. It is in the public domain in the United States and can be read free on Project Gutenberg in EPUB, Kindle and HTML formats.
Is there a free audiobook of The Dead Secret?
Yes — LibriVox volunteers recorded it; the recording runs 16 h 18 min.
What books are similar to The Dead Secret?
Readers who like it often enjoy Jamaica Inn, Rebecca and Jane Eyre.
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