The Woman in White

Author's Note

I began this story on 15 August 1859, at Broadstairs, and finished it on the 26th July 1860 at 12 Harley Street, London. It was first published, in weekly parts, in "All the Year Round", beginning in the number for November 23rd 1859, and ending with the number for August 22nd 1860. During the same period, it was periodically published at New York, US (by special arrangement with me) in "Harper's Weekly." The story was reprinted for the first time, by Mess Sampson Low, Son, and, shortly afterwards, a translation of it into German appeared at Leipzig. A French translation followed, published at Brussels and Paris.

The first chapters (forming the first weekly part, and the opening of the second) were rewritten, after they had been set up in type. The printed fragments inserted, here and there, at the beginning of the Mss comprise those portions of the first proofs which it was not found necessary to alter, and which were attached to the written text to save the trouble of transcription. The whole of the rest of the Mss was written for the press, once, and once only - exactly as it is here preserved. In all cases, where there is any important difference between the printed copy and the original manuscript, the additions and alterations (Miss Halcombe's Dream, for example, among the number) were made, on the spur of the moment, upon the proofs - which I have not preserved.--Wilkie Collins, October 4th, 1860.