Vernon Lee
Vernon Lee, the pseudonym of Violet Paget, was a French-born British writer known for her contributions to supernatural fiction and aesthetics. Born in 1856, she became an influential figure in the literary world, particularly as an early follower of Walter Pater. Lee's writings encompassed a diverse array of topics, including art, music, and travel, resulting in over a dozen volumes of essays that explored the intersections of these fields. Her most notable works include 'Hauntings' and 'The Virgin of the Seven Daggers,' which showcase her unique ability to blend psychological depth with supernatural elements. Lee's literary significance lies not only in her innovative storytelling but also in her role as a pioneer of the supernatural genre. Her exploration of themes such as identity, desire, and the uncanny paved the way for future writers in the genre. Additionally, her essays on aesthetics contributed to the discourse on art and beauty during her time, influencing both literary and artistic movements. Vernon Lee's legacy endures through her thought-provoking works, which continue to inspire discussions on the nature of art and the supernatural in literature.
Famous Quotes
View all 3 quotes“The fact is, that having once seen Alice Oke in the reality, it was quite impossible to remember that one could have fancied her at all different: there was something so complete, so completely unlike every one else, in her personality, that she seemed always to have been present in one’s consciousness, although present, perhaps, as an enigma.”
“There he presides, variously Olympian, over the dreary 1820 wallpapers and sofas and card-tables, key-patterned or sham Gothic, but all faded and dust-engrained; among the dismal collections of ores and crystals and skulls and stuffed birds : a pantalooned and stocked and swallow-tailed Rentier Faust. And round him that court of huge blackened casts, Ludovisi Junos and Rondanini Joves, and various decapitated Adorantes and Ilioneuses ; that other company of faded ladies, stomachered or short-waisted, Lottes and Lilis and Maximilianes and Christianes, Suleikas, Gretchens, and Ottilies, on whose love and love for him (as on the succulent roast ox-thighs of Homeric days) the god Wolfgang nourished and increased his own divinity.”
“If there are such things as ghosts," he replied, "I don't think they should be taken lightly. God would not permit them to be, except as a warning or a punishment.”
Books from the author
