Vera by Elizabeth Von Arnim is a captivating and thought-provoking novel that delves deep into the complexities of love, power, and manipulation. The story follows Lucy Entwhistle, a young woman who finds herself entangled in a web of emotional manipulation when she visits Vera, a wealthy and charismatic woman with a mysterious past.

Von Arnim's writing is both lyrical and evocative, drawing the reader into the lush and opulent world of Vera's estate. The characters are richly drawn and multifaceted, with Vera herself being a particularly enigmatic and fascinating figure.

As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Vera is not to be underestimated, and Lucy must navigate a dangerous game of manipulation and deceit in order to uncover the truth about Vera's past and protect herself from harm.

Overall, Vera is a gripping and engaging novel that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat until the very end. Von Arnim's exploration of power dynamics and the complexities of human relationships is both riveting and thought-provoking. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and immersive read.

Book Description:
Vera (1921) by Elizabeth von Arnim is a black comedy based on her disastrous second marriage to Earl Russell: a mordant analysis of the romantic delusions through which wives acquiesce in husbands' tyrannies. In outline the story of this utterly unromantic novel anticipates DuMaurier's Rebecca. Naive Lucy Entwhistle is swept into marriage by widower, Everard Wemyss. His mansion "The Willows" is pervaded by the spectre of his dead wife Vera, with whom Lucy becomes obsessed. ... Here the servants are partisan for both wives, and lose no opportunity to disrupt Everard's unctuous, oppressive household routines. An extraordinarily black vision of marriage, also continuously funny, the novel's power lies in the wit and economy of the usually prolix Von Arnim.