The Moonstone is a magnificent yellow diamond, 'large as a plover's egg', with a bloody history, which has been stolen from the home of Lady Verinder. An innocent man is accused of the crime. From this simple beginning Wilkie Collins creates a stunning, complex narrative of dark mystery, suspense and atmosphere. It is one of the cornerstones in the development of crime fiction. The poet and critic T. S. Eliot declared that it was 'the first, the longest and the best of modern English detective novels'. But The Moonstone, which has fascinated readers since its first publication in 1868, is more than a 'whodunnit'; like all Collins' works, it explores, dissects and exposes the society in which he lived. The richness of character and incident are engrossing, entertaining and enlightening. The Moonstone is one of the great Victorian novels.

With an Afterword by David Stuart Davies.