Husband and Wife

Wilkie Collins is the founder of the classic detective story, a classic of British literature and, oddly enough, a well-known opponent of classic matchmaking and marriage. His ninth novel, “Man and Wife,” is precisely about the hardships of the laws of marriage—and it can be read as the first legal thriller in history. Wilkie Collins is a master of intrigue and sudden plot twists—even when he talks about legal proceedings, it’s entertaining. Essentially, “Man and Wife” is a big, solid, cozy novel in the best traditions of British classics, where it’s about people trying to find their happiness, though obstacles come not only from ordinary human factors, but also from the impenetrable tangles of Scottish laws.