At the time she wrote her most famous novels, Braddon also wrote a number of anonymous serials for lower class magazines. The third of these serial novels was The White Phantom (1862-1863). Aimed at the poorest readers, it offers obvious parallels with her middle class fiction. The White Phantom gives the reader a portrayal of decadent upper class life, intertwined with worthy working class characters from travelling shows. Set in 1860s London, Lady Blanche Vavasour resorts to murder when her former art teacher and lover threatens to give her compromising letters to her fiance. After her marriage to the Duke of Arlington, Blanche attains the wealth she desired, but is haunted by the avenging figure of the White Phantom - who knows her murderous secret.