Hauntings (ePub)

Vernon Lee, the pen name of Violet Paget (1856-1935), was an acclaimed British author known for her contributions to supernatural fiction, aesthetics, and travel narratives. Born to expatriate parents in France, Lee spent most of her life in Italy, absorbing the culture and history that would deeply influence her writing. 'Hauntings' (1890), one of her renowned works, is a collection of tales that delve into the eerie and spectral, showcasing her masterful use of psychological horror and the uncanny. An intellectual figure of her time, Lee's work transcended mere ghost stories; she deftly intertwined her narratives with commentaries on society, art, and philosophy, blending gothic elements with poignant social critiques. Her literary style is characterized by a sophisticated and erudite tone, often reflective of her extensive knowledge and learnings in art history and music, which informed her aesthetic theories and critique of the fin de siècle. Lee never confined herself to fiction; her essays and studies, including 'Euphorion' (1884), 'Baldwin' (1886), and 'The Beautiful: An Introduction to Psychological Aesthetics' (1913), contributed significantly to Victorian intellectual discourse. Her work remained influential within literary circles and is still recognized for challenging the norms of her era through both her literary pursuits and her questioning of gender roles within society.