Trilby

The character of Trilby is both endearing and complex, as she navigates the challenges of being a young artist in a male-dominated world. Her relationships with the three men who adore her – the talented artist Taffy, the charismatic musician Svengali, and the noble Laird – are central to the plot and add depth to her character.

The novel is beautifully written, with lush descriptions of Parisian streets and cafes that transport the reader to another time and place. Du Maurier’s prose is engaging and evocative, drawing the reader into the story from the very first page.

At its core, Trilby is a story about the power of love and art to transform lives. It is a poignant and thought-provoking read that will stay with you long after you finish the last page. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a classic novel that explores the complexities of human relationships and the nature of creativity.

Book Description:

Trilby, published in 1894, fits into the gothic horror genre which was undergoing a revival during the Fin de siècle and is one of the most popular novels of its time, perhaps the second best selling novel of the Fin de siècle period after Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

The story of the poor artist’s model Trilby O’Ferrall, transformed into a diva under the spell of the evil musical genius Svengali, created a sensation. Soap, songs, dances, toothpaste, and Trilby, Florida were all named for the heroine, and a variety of soft felt hat with an indented crown (worn in the London stage production of a dramatization of the novel) came to be called a trilby.

The plot inspired Gaston Leroux’s 1910 potboiler Phantom of the Opera and the innumerable works derived from it, and introduced the phrase “in the altogether” (meaning “completely unclothed”) to the English language.