[ Plot Summary ]  [Publishing History ]

Early American edition in paper wrappers (1886)

Novel by Wilkie Collins published in 1886, dedicated to William Holman Hunt, treating the related themes of divorce and child-custody. The story was ahead of its time in presenting both the wife and the mistress of an adulterous husband in a sympathetic light and concentrating the reader's attention on the plight of the child involved in the break-up of a marriage. The 'evil genius' of the title is an interfering mother-in-law. Collins unexpectedly upholds double standards in a passage added shortly before publication, claiming that a husband's adultery should not, by itself, be sufficient grounds for divorce, and ends the novel with a reconciliation and remarriage. Collins also used the plot for a dramatic version with the same title. He wrote the book and play simultaneously and traces of his method can be detected in the novel which has an unusually high proportion of dialogue. The play, tauter and in some ways more effective than the book, was never performed, though it was given a single reading for the purpose of establishing dramatic copyright.

After a traumatic childhood and youth, Sydney Westerfield is rescued from the drudgery of teaching in her aunt's school by becoming the governess of Kitty, only child of Herbert and Catherine Linley.  Herbert and Sydney fall in love and matters are brought to a crisis by the meddling of Mrs Presty, Catherine Linley's mother.  Sydney leaves the household but is brought back when Kitty becomes seriously ill, pining for her beloved governess.  The situation deteriorates further and Catherine leaves her husband.  To avoid custody of the child being given to Herbert, she goes into hiding with her mother and Kitty, obtaining a divorce under Scottish law.  Kitty, however, is miserable.  She misses her father and her governess - she is told her father is dead - and lacks companions because other children are not allowed to play with the child of divorced parents.

Matters are further complicated by the introduction of a friend of Sydney's dead father, Captain Bennydeck, who is searching for her.  He falls in love with Catherine but withdraws a proposal of marriage when he learns she is divorced.  A somewhat contrived happy ending is brought about when Sydney, tormented by her guilty conscience, leaves Herbert and the Linleys are reunited by Kitty and remarry.  Sydney becomes Captain Bennydeck's secretary and the reader is left with the expectation that they will marry.

Title-page from the first English edition of 1886

1st US editions (precede English)