Vernon Lee Books

This selection brings together the fantastic Gothic stories of Vernon Lee, including the landmark collection Hauntings, first published in 1890, along with six additional tales and the 1880 essay 'Faustus and Helena'.

Vernon Lee, the pseudonym of Violet Paget, was a pioneering figure in supernatural fiction, exploring themes of haunting and possession with a touch of terror. Living primarily in Europe and known for her feminist stance, she formed deep relationships and often dressed as a man. Her notable works, including the collection "Hauntings" and the story "Prince Alberic and the Snake Lady," showcase her unique voice and influence, even earning respect from contemporaries like Montague Summers and Henry James. This comprehensive collection highlights her significant contributions to the genre.

Vernon Lee, the pseudonym of Violet Paget, is celebrated for her supernatural fiction and aesthetic essays. Influenced by Walter Pater, she produced numerous works on art, music, and travel. Her short stories often delve into themes of haunting and possession, with notable collections like Hauntings (1890). One of her most famous tales, "Prince Alberic and the Snake Lady" (1895), was featured in the infamous The Yellow Book, highlighting her impact on the literary scene of her time.

Vernon Lee, the pseudonym of Violet Paget, is renowned for her supernatural fiction and aesthetic essays. An early admirer of Walter Pater, she authored numerous essays on art, music, and travel. Her short stories delve into themes of haunting and possession, with notable collections like Hauntings (1890). Her tale "Prince Alberic and the Snake Lady" (1895) gained attention when published in the controversial The Yellow Book, showcasing her unique blend of literary and supernatural elements.

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

Violet Paget, known by her pseudonym Vernon Lee, was a prolific Franco-British writer celebrated for her supernatural short stories and insightful essays on travel and place. Her first book, Genius Loci: Notes on Places (1899), showcases her keen observations and reflections on various locations. Over her 50-year career, she authored nearly a book each year, blending fiction and nonfiction to explore the essence of different environments and their influence on human experience.

This chilling collection weaves together eerie tales that blend the fantastic with decadent themes, rich in satanic imagery and morbid atmospheres. Set against the backdrop of Italian pastoral beauty, the stories explore the unsettling intrusion of the past into the lives of their protagonists. Notable tales include a prince's dangerous love for a reptilian beauty, a deadly wedding plot, and a haunting ghostly voice that corrupts a composer's work. Each narrative captivates with its intricate blend of love, obsession, and the supernatural.

This collection of Vernon Lee's uniquely weird short stories and dark fantasies proves why she was once considered among the best of the genre, and why she deserves to return to those ranks today.

Exploring the intricate relationship between beauty and psychology, this work by Vernon Lee, the pseudonym of Violet Paget, offers a unique blend of philosophy, psychology, and art criticism. It challenges traditional aesthetic theories by examining how emotions, cultural influences, and personal experiences shape our perceptions of beauty. Published in the late nineteenth century, it serves as a pioneering effort to connect aesthetics with psychological insights, making it an essential resource for both scholars and art enthusiasts.

Vernon Lee, a pseudonym of Violet Paget (1856-1935), is the most important female aesthetician to come out of 19th-century England. Though she was widely known for her supernatural fictions, Lee never gained the recognition she so clearly deserved for her contributions in the fields of aesthetics, philosophy of empathy and art criticism. An early follower of Walter Pater, she wrote with an extreme attention to her own responses to artworks, and a level of psychological sensitivity rarely seen in any aesthetic writing. Today, she is largely understudied and rarely read, her aesthetic writings long out of print. Now, David Zwirner Books reintroduces her writing through the first-ever English publication of 'The Psychology of an Art Writer' (1903) along with selections from her groundbreaking 'Gallery Diaries' (1901-4), breathtaking accounts of Lee's own experiences with the great paintings and sculptures she traveled to see.

Nominated for a 34th annual Lambda Literary Award • A scintillating thriller with an emotional punch: “The tension builds to unbearably claustrophobic levels. To say more would rob readers of the 'no, he didn’t' suspense that makes Bath Haus an unexpectedly twisted, heart-pounding cat-versus-mouse thriller" (Los Angeles Times). Oliver Park, a recovering addict from Indiana, finally has everything he ever wanted: sobriety and a loving, wealthy partner in Nathan, a prominent DC trauma surgeon. Despite their difference in age and disparate backgrounds, they've made a perfect life together. With everything to lose, Oliver shouldn't be visiting Haus, a gay bathhouse. But through the entrance he goes, and it's a line crossed. Inside, he follows a man into a private room, and it's the final line. Whatever happens next, Nathan can never know. But then, everything goes wrong, terribly wrong, and Oliver barely escapes with his life. He races home in full-blown terror as the hand-shaped bruise grows dark on his neck. The truth will destroy Nathan and everything they have together, so Oliver does the thing he used to do so well: he lies. What follows is a classic runaway-train narrative, full of the exquisite escalations, edge-of-your-seat thrills, and oh-my-god twists. P. J. Vernon's Bath Haus is perfect for readers curious for their next must-read novel.

Set against the backdrop of renaissance Italy, the diary of Spiridion Trepkä chronicles his research journey to Urbanica, where he encounters the enigmatic Medea da Carpi. This meeting leads him into a haunting and macabre adventure, embodying the essence of a classic ghost story. Written by Vernon Lee, a notable figure in supernatural fiction, the novel showcases her unique blend of irony and original thought. This new edition also includes a dedication by Amy Levy, enhancing its appeal for fans of the genre.

Vernon Lee, the pseudonym of British writer Violet Paget, is renowned for her supernatural fiction and aesthetic essays. An early admirer of Walter Pater, she produced numerous volumes on art, music, and travel. Her short stories often delve into themes of haunting and possession, with notable collections like "Hauntings" (1890) and the acclaimed tale "Prince Alberic and the Snake Lady" (1895), which appeared in the infamous literary magazine The Yellow Book. Lee's works continue to intrigue readers with their blend of the supernatural and the artistic.

Vernon Lee, the pseudonym of Violet Paget, is notable for her contributions to supernatural fiction and aesthetics. An admirer of Walter Pater, she produced numerous essays on art, music, and travel. Her short stories delve into themes of haunting and possession, with her most acclaimed works compiled in "Hauntings" (1890). Additionally, her tale "Prince Alberic and the Snake Lady" (1895) gained attention through its publication in the infamous "The Yellow Book."

Exploring the intersection of art and life, this collection of essays showcases Vernon Lee's advocacy for Aestheticism and her scholarly insights into the Italian Renaissance. Drawing inspiration from Walter Pater, Lee delves into the significance of beauty as an independent pursuit, using the bay laurel as a potent symbol of artistic achievement. Despite facing criticism for her pacifist stance during World War I, her lyrical and meditative prose reaffirms her status as a masterful writer and intellectual. This edition revitalizes her essential contributions for contemporary audiences.

The book is a reproduction of a historical work, presented in large print to enhance accessibility for readers with impaired vision. Published by Megali, which focuses on making classic texts more readable, this edition aims to preserve the original content while ensuring it is easier to engage with for those who may struggle with standard print sizes.

Vernon Lee, the pseudonym of Violet Paget, is celebrated for her supernatural fiction and aesthetic essays. An early disciple of Walter Pater, she authored numerous volumes on art, music, and travel. Her short stories delve into themes of haunting and possession, with notable works included in "Hauntings" (1890) and the infamous "Prince Alberic and the Snake Lady" (1895), which first appeared in The Yellow Book. Lee's unique blend of literary exploration and supernatural elements has left a lasting impact on the genre.

Focusing on Princess Louise of Stolberg-Gedern, the biography explores her challenging marriage to Charles Edward Stuart, known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, while highlighting her independent spirit and significant relationship with Italian playwright Count Vittorio Alfieri. The author, Vernon Lee, combines her expertise in Italian history with a narrative style that reveals Louise as a principled feminist and pacifist, offering a fresh perspective on a woman often overshadowed by her husband's legacy. This work stands out as a classic historical biography, reimagined for contemporary readers.

Focusing on aesthetics and the concept of beauty, this collection showcases Violet Paget's insightful essays that explore art's psychological and philosophical dimensions. The works within address topics such as artistic personality, the relationship between beauty and sanity, and the practical aspects of art. Paget's unique perspective and ironic wit make these essays engaging for readers interested in art and aesthetics. Additionally, the volume includes a new biography, enriching the understanding of her life and contributions to literature.

Violet Paget, known as Vernon Lee, was a notable writer of supernatural fiction and aesthetics, celebrated for her wit and irony. "Penelope Brandling," originally published in 1903, exemplifies her contribution to Victorian literature and is a must-read for fans of her work. The novel showcases her unique narrative style and thematic depth. This new edition by Read & Co. Classics includes an introductory biography by Daniel Lleufer Thomas, offering readers additional context about Paget's life and literary significance.

This book is a reproduction of a historical work, presented in large print to enhance accessibility for readers with impaired vision. Published by Megali, a company dedicated to making literature more inclusive, it aims to preserve and share important texts while ensuring they are easily readable for all audiences.

A deeply personal memoir, this work explores Vernon Lee's return to Rome, a city that shaped her youth. As she revisits familiar sites, Lee reflects on their profound significance, intertwining her experiences with themes of history, art, and beauty. Her unique perspective as a feminist and pacifist, alongside her reputation as a master of literary horror, adds depth to her observations. Through rich diary entries, she captures the essence of a city filled with memories and the spectral presence of her past, making it a captivating read for those interested in art and travel.

Exploring various aesthetic themes, this 1881 collection features essays that delve into art, music, and literary morality, reflecting Vernon Lee's unique insights. Topics range from the psychological aspects of artistic figures to the supernatural in art, showcasing her wit and irony. Lee, a prominent figure in aestheticism and supernatural fiction, offers a rich examination of cultural and artistic issues. This new edition includes a biography, enhancing the reader's understanding of her contributions to literature and aesthetics.

Vernon Lee, seudónimo de la británica Violet Paget, nació en 1856 en Boulogne-sur-Mer (Francia), y murió en San Gervasio Bresciano (Italia) en 1935. En la literatura fue precoz y brillante desde época temprana, quedando su vida marcada por una educación cosmopolita y una gran curiosidad que se verían reflejadas en la calidad de sus ensayos y en las documentadísimas ambientaciones de sus obras de ficción. Los seis relatos que recoge este volumen son "Oke de Okehurst o un amante fantasma", "Amour Dure", "Esa maldita voz", "La leyenda de madame Krasinska", "Dionea" y "La virgen de los siete puñales" y se cuentan entre las obras mejor perfiladas de la autora, como lo prueban su vigente popularidad y su continua reedición desde que fueron publicados por primera vez.

Zu Unrecht zählt Vernon Lee zu den vergessenen und vernachlässigten Autorinnen des viktorianischen Fin de Siècle und der Moderne des frühen 20. Jahrhunderts. Sie ist eine der führenden kosmopolitisch ausgerichteten Intellektuellen jener Zeit gewesen. Schon früh war ihr Leben durch die zahlreichen Ortswechsel geprägt, die das Nomadendasein der Familie mit sich brachte. Stationen in Deutschland, England, Frankreich, der Schweiz, Belgien und Italien sind zu nennen. Es nimmt daher nicht wunder, dass sie sich auch mit wahrnehmungstheoretischen Fragen der Fortbewegung in der modernen Zeit beschäftigte und Reisejournale verfasste. Der aus dem Jahr 1897 stammende Essay On modern travelling stellt die grundsätzliche Frage nach dem Unterschied des Reisens in früheren und modernen Zeiten. Eine Kritik am touristischen Unterwegssein bleibt dabei nicht aus. Als Fortbewegungsmittel nimmt Lee vor allem die Eisenbahn in den Blick, die in dem kleinen Beitrag über verpasste Züge (1904) ihren allegorischen Anstrich erhält. Das Fahrrad indes, dem sie sich in dem hübschen Essay My bycicle and I (1904) widmet, darf als Gefährt eines freiheitlichen Lebensgefühls gelten.