After Dark

"After Dark" by Wilkie Collins is a collection of interconnected tales written in the late 19th century. The narrative revolves around Mr. William Kerby, a traveling portrait-painter, whose life is punctuated by personal struggles, including an eye ailment that forces him to cease his work for six months. The stories progress through his wife Leah’s perspective as she records her thoughts in her diary, intertwining their domestic challenges with the colorful characters they encounter during their travels. The opening of the text introduces us to Leah's diary entries, detailing the couple's plight after her husband's health issues jeopardize their income and necessitate a move to a farmhouse. Leah's resilience in the face of adversity is highlighted, revealing her determination to sustain her family and support her husband through his difficult time. The entries reflect her worries about their financial situation, yet also showcase moments of hope and familial love. As the narrative unfolds, the couple contemplates the possibility of William sharing stories from his life as an artist to turn their hardships into a new venture, setting the stage for the collection of tales that will follow.