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Toxin
Excerpt from Toxin
A string of Opals, linked and set in gold, had been loosened from her throat, and had slid down into the water of the lagoon, midway between the Lido and the city of Venice. But the gondola was moving swiftly under the impulsion of a rower fore and aft, and, though they stopped a few moments after at her cry, the spot where it had fallen was already passed and left.
A string of Opals, linked and set in gold, had been loosened from her throat, and had slid down into the water of the lagoon, midway between the Lido and the city of Venice. But the gondola was moving swiftly under the impulsion of a rower fore and aft, and, though they stopped a few moments after at her cry, the spot where it had fallen was already passed and left.
462 pages, Paperback
First published September 27, 2015
About the author
Ouida
408 books57 followersOuida was the pen name of the English novelist Maria Louise Ramé (although she preferred to be known as Marie Louise de la Ramée).
During her career, she wrote more than 40 novels, children's books and collections of short stories and essays. She was an animal rights activist and animal rescuer, and at times owned as many as thirty dogs. For many years she lived in London, but about 1874 she went to Italy, where she died.
Ouida's work went through several phases during her career. In her early period, her novels were a hybrid of the sensationalism of the 1860s and the proto-adventure novels dubbed "muscular fiction" that were emerging in part as a romanticization of imperial expansion. Later her work was more along the lines of historical romance, though she never stopped comment on contemporary society. She also wrote several stories for children. One of her most famous novels, Under Two Flags, described the British in Algeria in the most extravagant of terms, while nonetheless also expressing sympathy for the Frenchwith whom Ouida deeply identifiedand, to some extent, the Arabs. This book went on to be staged in plays, and subsequently to be turned into at least three movies, transitioning Ouida in the 20th century.
Jack London cites her novel Signa, which describes an unschooled Italian peasant child who achieves fame as an opera composer, and which he read at age eight, as one of the eight reasons for his literary success.
During her career, she wrote more than 40 novels, children's books and collections of short stories and essays. She was an animal rights activist and animal rescuer, and at times owned as many as thirty dogs. For many years she lived in London, but about 1874 she went to Italy, where she died.
Ouida's work went through several phases during her career. In her early period, her novels were a hybrid of the sensationalism of the 1860s and the proto-adventure novels dubbed "muscular fiction" that were emerging in part as a romanticization of imperial expansion. Later her work was more along the lines of historical romance, though she never stopped comment on contemporary society. She also wrote several stories for children. One of her most famous novels, Under Two Flags, described the British in Algeria in the most extravagant of terms, while nonetheless also expressing sympathy for the Frenchwith whom Ouida deeply identifiedand, to some extent, the Arabs. This book went on to be staged in plays, and subsequently to be turned into at least three movies, transitioning Ouida in the 20th century.
Jack London cites her novel Signa, which describes an unschooled Italian peasant child who achieves fame as an opera composer, and which he read at age eight, as one of the eight reasons for his literary success.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 25, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
This was a sick story. It questions human morality and how far you can go, or rather are allowed to go, in pursuit of knowledge. It's so beautifully written, contradicting the horrific content of the story. Had me on the edge of my seat fr
This was a sick story. It questions human morality and how far you can go, or rather are allowed to go, in pursuit of knowledge. It's so beautifully written, contradicting the horrific content of the story. Had me on the edge of my seat fr
April 20, 2026
✒️ This short story started off strong and ended lame. All that for an opal necklace and a wedding. 🗑 Other readers might find this story their string of pearls and phial of toxin. It wasn’t for me.
📕Published: 1895. In the public domain.
જ⁀🍋 Read illustrated e-book version on Project Gutenberg. 🟡
༺༻◼️༺༻◼️༺༻◼️༺༻
📕Published: 1895. In the public domain.
જ⁀🍋 Read illustrated e-book version on Project Gutenberg. 🟡
༺༻◼️༺༻◼️༺༻◼️༺༻
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews