A Phantom Lover

Name: A Phantom Lover
Author: Vernon Lee

Open in WeRead

About This Book

The narrator, an artist, recounts an obsessive fascination with a singular, exquisitely strange woman encountered while commissioned to paint her and her husband. He details her uncanny gestures and peculiar beauty, the social bafflement she provokes, and the husband's anxious devotion. The account follows the painting sessions and the narrator's attempts to fix her on canvas, showing how aesthetic attraction, superstition, and interpersonal discomfort intertwine and lead to a mysterious, unsettling resolution that alters lives and the narrator's understanding of her.

About the Author

Vernon Lee

Vernon Lee was the pen name of the English author and essayist Violet Paget, known for her contributions to literature in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She is recognized for her exploration of aestheticism and the supernatural, often blending philosophical themes with vivid storytelling. One of her notable works, "A Phantom Lover," showcases her talent for weaving haunting narratives that delve into the complexities of desire and identity. Lee's essays, such as those found in "Belcaro," reflect her deep engagement with art and aesthetics, making her a significant figure in the literary heritage of her time.

More Books by This Author

6 picks

Ariadne in Mantua: A Romance in Five Acts cover

Ariadne in Mantua: A Romance in Five Acts by Vernon Lee

Belcaro; Being Essays on Sundry Aesthetical Questions cover

Belcaro; Being Essays on Sundry Aesthetical Questions by Vernon Lee

Hauntings / Fantastic Stories by Vernon Lee

Hortus Vitae / Essays on the Gardening of Life cover

Hortus Vitae / Essays on the Gardening of Life by Vernon Lee

Laurus Nobilis: Chapters on Art and Life cover

Laurus Nobilis: Chapters on Art and Life by Vernon Lee

Limbo, and Other Essays; To which is now added Ariadne in Mantua cover

Limbo, and Other Essays; To which is now added Ariadne in Mantua by Vernon Lee