Wilkie Collins novel Basil was his second lengthy fiction work published in 1852 devoted to Charles Ward. It was his first modern novel. An early novel by Wilkie Collins, 'Basil' depicts the story of a young gentleman from a rich traditional family. Basil falls in love at first sight with the beautiful seventeen-year-old Margaret Sherwin. The daughter of a tanner, Margaret belongs to a much lower social status than Basil. Basil's father is a very reputated man and, knowing his father's hostility towards those who marry below their status, Basil keeps his affair a secret -even from Clara, the sister he loves. When Basil meets Margaret's father and tells his desire to marry her. Mr. Sherwin takes a promise from Basil that he will marry Margaret at once but will not accomplish the marriage for a year and during the period Margaret will stay back to his home. Astonishingly, Basil accepts all these conditions , he intensely adores Margaret, he marries her and meets her daily. Whilst he is visiting Margaret he becomes familiar with his father-in-law's chief clerk, Mr. Mannion, a very gentle good-looking middle-aged man who appears to have a impressive effect on Margaret and her mother. But is the pretty Margaret as attractive and virtuous as she appears?
