The Lifted Veil is a haunting and enigmatic novella that delves into the complex themes of destiny, clairvoyance, and the nature of reality. The protagonist, Latimer, is a man who possesses the ability to see into the minds and futures of those around him, a gift that ultimately proves to be more of a curse. As he struggles to come to terms with his power and the dark truths it reveals, he becomes increasingly isolated and alienated from those he loves.

George Eliot’s prose is as elegant and insightful as ever, delving deep into the inner workings of Latimer’s mind and soul. The novella is a gripping exploration of the limits of knowledge and the consequences of meddling with forces beyond our control. The ending is both enigmatic and thought-provoking, leaving the reader pondering the nature of fate and free will long after the final page is turned.

Overall, The Lifted Veil is a compelling and thought-provoking read from one of the greatest literary minds of the Victorian era. This novella is a must-read for fans of Eliot’s work and anyone interested in exploring the darker side of human nature.

Book Description:
George Eliot’s 1859 novella, The Lifted Veil, departs radically from the grounded realism of her longer and better known works, such as Middlemarch and Daniel Deronda. Its tone calls to mind the works of middlebrow Sensationists, like Wilkie Collins (The Moonstone), and of some of the better known authors of Victorian era horror writings, such as Bram Stoker (Dracula) and Mary Shelley (Frankenstein.

Eliot here explores mystical themes, considering the world of phenomena which are felt but not seen. Yet in doing so she suggests that the apparent clairvoyance of her main character, Latimer, may in fact be, at least in part, psychological expressions of his early life experiences. This view is supported by the fact that most of Latimer’s vision-based predictions of how people will behave and events unfold do not, in the end, turn out as he had foretold.

Much of this work’s power and complexity lie in Latimer’s relationship with Bertha, whom he ultimately, unhappily, marries. Bertha is the one person whose thoughts and feelings he is not able to read, raising the question: What is it about Bertha that renders her inaccessible to his psychic penetration – and what does this tell us about her, and about him. (Introduction by Kirsten Wever)