Lady Audley's Secret

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Lady Audley's Secret
Mary Elizabeth Braddon
1862

The Summary
Compiled into three consecutive volumes, Lady Audley's Secret follows the story of the mysterious Lucy Graham.  After marrying Sir Michael Audley (an aristocratic widower), Lucy - now known as Lady Audley - has become the sweetheart of the county and sparked the curiosity of Robert Audley, her husband's ne'er-do-well nephew.

Alternately, this novel tells the tragic story of George and Helen Talboys.  George, who having left London in search of fortune in Australia, has returned to England in search of his lovely wife only to discover she has died.  Despite being inconsolable over her loss, Robert Audley seeks to lift his friend's spirits by taking a holiday at the Audley estate.

And, then, George Talboys vanishes without a trace, leaving only Robert to investigate his mysterious disappearance and delve into the secrets of Lady Audley's past.


The Good
Mary Braddon doesn't miss a beat with her novel.  In fashioning a story of "accidental bigamy," she has included all the best elements of melodrama, which will keep you glued to your seat.

It's like a Victorian soap opera.  You just can't help but watch.

I will admit, it's occasionally terrible with its breathless pauses and predictable plot.  But it's entertaining nonetheless, especially when Braddon gets down and dirty with whirlwind romances, fraud, blackmail, murder, and madness.

The Bad
Like many Victorian authors, Braddon originally published her novel as a serialized story over a period of nearly twelve months.  So, Lady Audley's Secret will occasionally drag along at a snail's pace, as if the author simply couldn't make up her mind how to end the story.

And, holding at three full volumes, the ending of Lady Audley's Secret may not come soon enough.

The Ugly
Ugly things can come in pretty packages.

And, yes, I am talking about Lady Audley.  You'll learn fairly quickly she isn't all sunshine and rainbows and sweetness - think, instead, of cyanide wrapped in lace and silk.