ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on George Du Maurier's first two successful illustrated serials, both of which were sensational. The first of these was the five-part serial 'Santa; or A Woman's Tragedy' by Isa Blagden; with its nocturnal urban scenes and episodes of covert observation, this serial offered Du Maurier the possibility for dynamic and sensational illustrations as well as several vividly contrasting domestic scenes. The second serial that offered Du Maurier his entree as sensational illustrator was 'The Notting Hill Mystery,' which Simon Cooke rightly identifies as a 'breakthrough' for the artist. Du Maurier's two subsequent illustrations continue the theme of the collapsed woman, the time depicting the twin sisters being mesmerized and Mrs. Anderton collapsing from illness. In a serial that deals largely with documents and dates, Du Maurier's illustrations for 'The Notting Hill Mystery' turn away from the mundane details of insurance investigation and focus instead on the crime story.
