Eveline's Visitant

by Mary Elizabeth Braddon

Genres: Short Stories, Horror, Fiction, Classics, Ghost Stories, Gothic

Unknown Binding

About the author

Mary Elizabeth Braddon was a British Victorian era popular novelist. She was an extremely prolific writer, producing some 75 novels with very inventive plots. The most famous one is her first novel, Lady Audley's Secret (1862), which won her recognition and fortune as well. The novel has been in print ever since, and has been dramatised and filmed several times.

Braddon also founded Belgravia Magazine (1866), which presented readers with serialized sensation novels, poems, travel narratives, and biographies, as well as essays on fashion, history, science. She also edited Temple Bar Magazine. Braddon's legacy is tied to the Sensation Fiction of the 1860s.

She is also the mother of novelist W.B. Maxwell.

Reviews

[tortoise dreams · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Eveline's Visitant" is a short ghost story about two cousins who engage in a duel over a nameless woman, which ends in the death of one (André) and a curse on the other (Hector). Even though Hector is instantly remorseful, this is a tale of Gothic horror. If the curse seems unfair, too bad, equity is not be a requisite element of curses. André was a ladies' man, a "favourite of women," who treacherously stole a woman away from his cousin. In revenge, André's ghost seduces Hector's (eventual) wife, just as he seduced women when alive. At first glance it seems wrong the sweet and much-loved Eveline should suffer for her husband's youthful crime. So often it's the innocent who suffer most and most unfairly. But was she guiltless in her relationship with the ghost? The reader can't help but wonder why Eveline suffers so much trauma that she wastes away and dies. Braddon leaves a suggestion that Eveline entered into some form of supernatural infidelity, in which case she is punished sure enough for her wavering loyalty. There are even intimations of some erotic attachment between the ghost of Andre and Eveline. She confesses that the ghost "plucked all old familiar joys out of my heart, and left in it but one weird, unholy pleasure -- the delight of his presence ... I have striven against this wickedness in vain." Ironically, she asks her husband to curse her for this sin. "Eveline's Visitant" is a tale of the other side of this life, where the world is harsh, evil happens, and mortals suffer. Mary Elizabeth Braddon was famous for writing "sensation novels," her best known being Lady Audley's Secret (1862). [3★]

[April Cordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read--it doesn't drag the way some Victorian and edwardian ghost stories do. Then ending was satisfying and spooky.

[Kimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very quick read. It's not terribly exciting--it's filled with almost no action--but there's a lot to examine about the writing in particular.

[Mike'ala Gannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for my Fiction by Victorian Women course for Oxford - it was really interesting to analyze sensation and gothic fiction of the time period by women. Eveline is depicted as an innocent and perfect woman, a true 'angel in the house' - nevertheless her life is cut short by the pride and stubborn hate of the men around her.

[Sammi · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable, atmospheric quick read with an unexpected ending. Highly recommended for reading on a cold, dark winter’s night. 4 / 5

Read the full review, and others, on Sammi Loves Books: https://sammicox.wordpress.com/

[Srutirupa Acharya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent victorian ghost story based on revenge. It does not offer much surprises or ghastly moments along the way. But it runs with a steady flow of quiet horror and ends with an eerie climax. A very satisfying read throughout.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Read in a transcription off the internet.) A nice little horror story about vengeance and penance. Not that creepy, but Braddon makes it work.

[sangriacousin · Rating 5 out of 5]

FAVVVVV FAV FAV FAV

[a.d. nox · Rating 4 out of 5]

THAT WAS DARK AF

[Jacques · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this was amazing. Highly Recommended for gothic horror fans

[Benjamin Stahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sad, creepy little story about a ghost haunting the person who inadvertently killed him, by latching onto and draining the life force out of his most beloved.

[Sofia Cimballa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ummmm so short it probably shouldn't count as a book but anyways...

[Nube · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un relato de venganza, de amor, de fantasmas.

[Nikki Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The richest blessings of our lives are often those which cost us least."

Beautiful.

[Trauermaerchen · Rating 2 out of 5]

men ruining everything as always

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this Victorian ghost story by an author I knew nothing about. Thanks to Jack Wilson, host of "The History of Literature" Podcast.

[Madeleine]

2/2.5 - enjoyed the writing style but the story was disappointing.