{"product_id":"nine-o-clock-9781513282206","title":"Nine O' Clock","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eNine O' Clock\u003c\/i\u003e (1852) is a novel by Wilkie Collins. Written in the aftermath of \u003ci\u003eAntonina\u003c\/i\u003e (1850), his successful debut, \u003ci\u003eNine O' Clock\u003c\/i\u003e finds the author honing the trademark sense of mystery and psychological unease that would make him a household name around the world. Recognized as an important Victorian novelist and pioneer of detective fiction, Wilkie Collins was a writer with a gift for thoughtful entertainment, stories written for a popular audience that continue to resonate with scholars and readers today. At the height of the French Revolution, a group of prisoners awaiting execution is given the chance at one last night with friends and family. Elated, they feast and drink with their loved ones, exchanging stories of the past and even cracking jokes on the infamous guillotine, the very instrument of death they will face in the morning. Despite this general sense of hopeless joy, one man, Duprat, avoids the trend toward gallows humor, refusing to speak on the subject. Pressed by his friend Marginy, however, a change comes over Duprat, who begins to reveal a strange foresight of his own impending doom. Beyond its sensational plot, \u003ci\u003eNine O' Clock\u003c\/i\u003e is a masterpiece of Gothic horror and mystery for seasoned readers of Victorian fiction and newcomers alike. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Wilkie Collins' \u003ci\u003eNine O' Clock\u003c\/i\u003e is a classic work of English literature reimagined for modern readers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eCollins, Wilkie:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWilkie Collins\u003c\/b\u003e (1824-1889) was an English novelist and playwright. Born in London, Collins was raised in England, Italy, and France by William Collins, a renowned landscape painter, and his wife Harriet Geddes. After working for a short time as a tea merchant, he published \u003ci\u003eAntonina\u003c\/i\u003e (1850), his literary debut. He quickly became known as a leading author of sensation novels, a popular genre now recognized as a forerunner to detective fiction. Encouraged on by the success of his early work, Collins made a name for himself on the London literary scene. He soon befriended Charles Dickens, forming a strong bond grounded in friendship and mentorship that would last several decades. His novels \u003ci\u003eThe Woman in White\u003c\/i\u003e (1859) and \u003ci\u003eThe Moonstone\u003c\/i\u003e (1868) are considered pioneering examples of mystery and detective fiction, and enabled Collins to become financially secure. Toward the end of the 1860s, at the height of his career, Collins began to suffer from numerous illnesses, including gout and opium addiction, which contributed to his decline as a writer. Beyond his literary work, Collins is seen as an early advocate for marriage reform, criticizing the institution and living a radically open romantic lifestyle.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mint Editions","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50929771053330,"sku":"9781513282206","price":3.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_8aa879c5-5c5d-4ef5-8edb-3446417d2afd.jpg?v=1739051666","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/nine-o-clock-9781513282206","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}