The Woman in White is a novel written by Wilkie Collins in 1859, published in 1860. It is considered among the first mystery novels and is widely regarded as one of the best in sensational novel genre.
The protagonist in the story is Walter Hartright. The story can be considered as an early detective fiction as he uses many sleuthing techniques. The multiple narratives draw on the author’s legal training.
Throughout the story the characters encounter a mysterious woman in white, whose own sad story seems entangled with those of Laura and her husband. She is the mysterious Anne Catherick, who apparently plays a crucial role in the main events. Hartright first encountered Anne Catherick on his last night in London but she reappears, having escaped from the mental asylum. Actually, she was committed by Sir Percival since Anne and her mother know a dark secret about him.
The story is told through the accounts by the main characters. Walter Hartright, is a poor artist, a drawing master employed to teach two young women, Laura Fairlie and Marian Halcombe, in Limmeridge House in Cumberland, owned by  Frederick Fairlie, a selfish invalid and owner of Limmeridge House in Cumberland. He is Laura’s Uncle. Laura’s his supposed heir.
Hartright falls in love with pretty and fair Laura Fairlie. His feelings are returned, but she is already engaged to marry Baronet Sir Percival Glyde. Hartright and Laura are parted and she marries Glyde.
The real motive of Sir Percival Glyde surfaced after his marriage to Laura. He is determined to gain control over her Laura’s wealth and he plans to steal her fortune and identity. Glyde enlists the help of Count Fosco, a fat and sinister Italian, who greatly admires Marian for her intellect. By this Anne, “the woman in white,” has died. They then exploit the resemblance between Laura and Anne Catherick. They bury Anne under Laura’s name and commit her to an asylum under the name of Anne.
As a result, Laura is stripped of her name and money, and almost of her sanity. She is rescued by strong-minded Marian and with the help of faithful Hartright. He and Marian battle to reclaim Laura’s identity, fortune and position in society, and expose the fraud of her husband, Sir Percival Glyde.
Laura and Walter marry. Anne Catherick, the woman in white, has always worn white because of advice she received as a child from Laura’s late mother, whom she loved for her kindness.
Author Wilkie Collins is at his best, with a brilliant plot and careful manipulation of great scenes and suspense.

Das erste wirklich schöne Wochenende dieses Jahres mit angenehmen Temperaturen um die 20° Celsius. Also nichts wie hinaus aus der düsteren Stadt, hinauf auf 1.135m Seehöhe, hinauf auf die Hohe Wand.
Die klare Luft und der wolkenfreie Himmel bieten eine herrliche Fernsicht bis in die grüne Steiermark.

Trotz Höhenangst posiert meine liebe Bettina vor der schoffen Felswand die sich hinter ihr senkrecht ins Tal stürzt.

 Der Frühling hat begonnen und wir freuen uns jetzt schon auf jeden einzelnen Tag!

Die Sonne glänzt, es blühen die Gefilde,
Die Tage kommen blütenreich und milde,
Der Abend blüht hinzu, und helle Tage gehen
Vom Himmel abwärts, wo die Tag entstehen.
Das Jahr erscheint mit seinen Zeiten
Wie eine Pracht, wo sich Feste verbreiten,
Der Menschen Tätigkeit beginnt mit neuem Ziele,
So sind die Zeichen in der Welt, der Wunder viele.

Friedrich Hölderlin, 1770

My kind of relaxation after a hard working day :)

“This pretty and funny book ought to become a great favourite with children. It has the advantage, that it has no moral, and that it does not teach anything. It is, in fact, pure sugar throughout, and is without any of that bitter foundation which some people imagine ought to be at the bottom of all children’s books”

Es naht der Herbst mit Riesenschritten,
verwandelt Grün in Gelb und Braun,
da hilft kein betteln und kein bitten,
Jahreszeit behauptet ihren Raum.

Sonnenstunden werden weniger,
warme Luft verlässt das Land,
Wolken ziehen niedriger,
es folgt ein breites Regenband.

Blätter fall´n herab in Scharen,
der Wind bläst kalt und manchmal scharf,
wo einst noch bunte Blumen waren,
liegt bald das Laub zum ew´gen Schlaf.

Niemand ändert diese Prozedur,
Sommer geht und Herbst beginnt,
ebenso macht´s unsere Lebensuhr,
mit uns, die wir hier auf Erden sind.”

H. Rehmann