Vernon Lee

Date of Birth: October 14, 1856

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Date of Death: February 13, 1935

Biography

Vernon Lee, born Violet Paget, was an English author and essayist renowned for her supernatural fiction, literary criticism, and travel writings. Born on October 14, 1856, in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, Violet Paget adopted the pseudonym Vernon Lee to publish her works. She grew up in a cosmopolitan and intellectually stimulating environment, which influenced her multifaceted literary career. Lee was a prominent figure in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, contributing significantly to the aesthetic movement and the study of Renaissance art and culture. Her most famous works include “Hauntings” (1890), a collection of ghost stories, and “The Spirit of Rome” (1906), a travelogue. Despite being primarily remembered for her supernatural fiction, Lee’s critical essays on art, music, and literature offer profound insights into the cultural currents of her time. A lifelong advocate for pacifism and women’s rights, Vernon Lee’s intellectual prowess and progressive views made her a respected figure among her contemporaries. She maintained close friendships with notable literary figures such as Henry James and Walter Pater. Vernon Lee continued to write until her death on February 13, 1935, in San Gervasio Bresciano, Italy.

5 Interesting Facts about Vernon Lee

1. Vernon Lee spoke multiple languages fluently, including English, French, German, and Italian.

2. She was an ardent pacifist and wrote extensively against World War I.

3. Lee was an early advocate for animal rights and vegetarianism.

4. Her home in Florence, Italy, was a hub for intellectual discussions, hosting many prominent artists and writers.

5. She had a lifelong relationship with British author and artist Clementina Anstruther-Thomson, who influenced her studies on aesthetics and psychology.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Vernon Lee

1. “Art is the desire of a man to express himself, to record the reactions of his personality to the world he lives in.”

2. “The past is never completely lost; it is, as it were, held in solution by the future.”

3. “To the untraveled, territory other than their own familiar heath is invariably fascinating.”

4. “The true function of the artist is to make his audience see the world as he sees it.”

5. “Every artist writes his own autobiography.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

The highest net worth Vernon Lee achieved is not well-documented; however, her influence and contributions to literature and cultural criticism are invaluable.