Mary Elizabeth Braddon

La historia de la literatura universal está plagada de ejemplos de mujeres malignas que han manipulado la voluntad de los hombres utilizando como armas su inteligencia y belleza, mostrando la debilidad del hombre ante las dulces palabras y el erotismo.Como fiel reflejo de la sociedad en que se desarrolla, la literatura muestra los cambios y terrenos que ha ganado la mujer a lo largo de la historia. Aun queda mucho camino que recorrer pero Medea, Sherezade, Morella, Madame Bovary e, incluso, Lisbeth Salander han ayudado a defender y reivindicar los derechos de la mujer.En esta antologia no hemos hecho distincion entre autores o autoras pues nos hemos centrado plenamente en los personajes femeninos como ejes de la antologia. La maldad que estos reflejan, como vera el lector, se produce por el desamor, la venganza o la incomprension y estara repleta de tintes sobrenaturales y misteriosos.Todos los relatos obedecen a la tradicion gotica y son fiel reflejo de esta. Por tanto, el lector observara que, en todos ellos, bajo la atmosfera de misterio laten conflictos amorosos mal resueltos y oscuros impulsos sentimentales. Esperamos que el lector disfrute de esta seleccion de relatos que tienen como protagonistas a mujeres malignas.

Una de las más célebres novelas de suspense y misterio victorianas. Su autora, M.E. Braddon, se alzó como reina de la intriga decimonónica junto a Wilkie Collins. Su obra permanece inédita o descatalogada.Junto a Wilkie Collins se elevo al mas alto escalafon de la novela de misterio

Lady Audley's Secret is, perhaps, the most famous of the Victorian 'sensation' novels. When beautiful young Lucy Graham accepts the hand of Sir Michael Audley, her fortune and her future look secure. But Lady Audley's past is shrouded in mystery, and to Sir Michael's nephew Robert, she is not all that she seems. When his good friend George Talboys suddenly disappears, Robert is determined to find him, and to unearth the truth. His quest reveals a tangled story of lies and deception, crime and intrigue, whose sensational twists turn the conventional picture of Victorian womanhood on its head. Can Robert's darkest suspicions really be true?

This Victorian bestseller, along with Braddon's other famous novel, Aurora Floyd, established her as the main rival of the master of the sensational novel, Wilkie Collins. A protest against the passive, insipid 19th-century heroine, Lady Audley was described by one critic of the time as 'high-strung, full of passion, purpose, and movement.' Her crime (the secret of the title) is shown to threaten the apparently respectable middle-class world of Victorian England.

Great Victorian mystery classic, beautifully plotted, suspenseful; praised by Thackery, Boucher, Starrett, others.

A les festes, lady Audley és sempre el centre de totes les mirades; les dones n'elogien el bon gust i la discreció; el homes es rendeixen als seus peus tan bon punt ella manifesta el desig més nimi... Però hi ha alguna cosa fosca a la seva mirada que delata un secret ocult, i en la seva rialla diamantina de vegades ressona l'eco d'un passat inconfessat. El costat fosc d'aquesta dona fascinant i manipuladora -una Lucrècia Borja del segle XIX- ser l'objecte de la investigació de Robert Audley, un aristòcrata aptic, que es veu provisionalment convertit en detectiu. A través d'una intriga obsessiva i astutament tramada, assistim als fasts d'un món de luxe i vanitat, passions i amor romntic, però també de traïció, demència i mort. Mary Elizabeth Braddon aprofundeix en les ansietats i les inquietuds de l'Anglaterra victoriana, en una tensió narrativa que, com també passa amb les novel•les de Wilkie Collins, no ofereix treva al lector i el manté fins al final en suspens. Mary Elizabeth Braddon (1835-1915) va nèixer al Soho de Londres. Inicialment es va dedicar al teatre, però el 1860 va baixar dels escenaris per dedicar-se a la literatura. Va començar escrivint novel•les per entregues que es publicaven en diverses revistes o diaris i va aconseguir la fama amb El secret de Lady Audley (1862) i Aurora Floyd (1863). Les seves novel•les fan una anlisi crítica de la societat de la seva època i, encara que en molts casos van produir força enrenou, van ser vidament llegides per Tennyson, Dickens, Thackeray o Henry James.

Mary Elizabeth Braddon (1837-1915), Victorian Englands bestselling woman writer, blends Dickensian humor with chilling suspense in this exuberantly campy (Kirkus Reviews) mystery. The novel features Jabez North, a manipulative orphan who becomes a ruthless killer; Valerie de Cevennes, a stunning heiress who falls into Norths diabolical trap; and Mr. Peters, a mute detective who communicates his brilliant reasoning through sign language. This edition includes a critical Afterword and endnotes by Victorian scholar Dr. Chris Willis.

This is a highly sensational story, full of clever, sprightly, and powerful writing, although calculated to make us believe that modern society is sadly in need of moral improvement. Miss Braddon writes with great fluency and case, and appears to have a natural aptitude for plotting. In abandoning the stage and music - teaching for this department of literature, we do not think she has mistaken her vocation. The first chapter of Aurora Floyd is a story in itself. It tells the history of Mr. Archibald Floyd who came from the land o cakes, and worked his way up in the world till he became the senior partner of the great banking firm of Floyd, Floyd and Floyd, Lombard Street. It pictures him at his country residence, a bachelor past the prime of life, desolate and wealthy. It follows him to the theatre of Lancashiretown, where he falls in love with an actress Miss Eliza Prodder by name and marries her immediately; her theatrical acquaintances assuring her, in language more sincere than elegant, that she would be a great fool to refuse an old fellow like him, with lots of money for they had acquired an idea of his wealth by his treating them in an adjoining tavern. There is nothing very attractive about her but her bright, black eyes; she is a mystery to the ladies who meet her at her new home, and they speak evil and are jealous of her; she is amazed at the grandeur of her new position; but earthly glory is short - lived, she dies, leaving behind a helpless babe and an inconsolable husband ...

This is a highly sensational story, full of clever, sprightly, and powerful writing, although calculated to make us believe that modern society is sadly in need of moral improvement. Miss Braddon writes with great fluency and case, and appears to have a natural aptitude for plotting. In abandoning the stage and music - teaching for this department of literature, we do not think she has mistaken her vocation. The first chapter of Aurora Floyd is a story in itself. It tells the history of Mr. Archibald Floyd who came from the land o cakes, and worked his way up in the world till he became the senior partner of the great banking firm of Floyd, Floyd and Floyd, Lombard Street. It pictures him at his country residence, a bachelor past the prime of life, desolate and wealthy. It follows him to the theatre of Lancashiretown, where he falls in love with an actress Miss Eliza Prodder by name and marries her immediately; her theatrical acquaintances assuring her, in language more sincere than elegant, that she would be a great fool to refuse an old fellow like him, with lots of money for they had acquired an idea of his wealth by his treating them in an adjoining tavern. There is nothing very attractive about her but her bright, black eyes; she is a mystery to the ladies who meet her at her new home, and they speak evil and are jealous of her; she is amazed at the grandeur of her new position; but earthly glory is short - lived, she dies, leaving behind a helpless babe and an inconsolable husband ...

In the quaint town of Lynmouth, nestled amidst the picturesque Devonshire hills, a sinister secret lurks beneath the tranquil surface. As the River Lyn meanders through the town, it whispers tales of a tragic past and a love that knows no bounds.When young and beautiful Laura Fairlie arrives at her aunts secluded estate, she finds herself entangled in a web of mystery and danger. A series of unexplained events and the haunting presence of a mysterious stranger cast a shadow over her idyllic summer. As Laura delves deeper into the towns hidden secrets, she uncovers a chilling truth that threatens to shatter her world forever.

In the eerie silence of an ancient manor, a young woman named Laura Fairlie finds herself trapped in a web of secrets and danger. As she delves deeper into the mysteries surrounding her familys past, she encounters a cast of enigmatic characters, each with their own hidden motives.Whispers echo through the corridors, carrying tales of a tragic love affair and a long-buried crime. Lauras sanity is tested as she struggles to separate truth from illusion, and the line between reality and madness blurs. With each step she takes, she uncovers a layer of deception that threatens to consume her.

In the haunting realm of Asphodel, a desolate moor shrouded in secrets, a young woman named Helen Trevelyan finds herself entangled in a web of deceit and danger. As she delves into the enigmatic past of the manor that bears her name, she uncovers a chilling legacy of love, betrayal, and murder.Haunted by ghostly apparitions and tormented by the whispers of the dead, Helen must confront the darkness that lurks within the walls of Asphodel. With each step she takes, she draws closer to the truth, a truth that threatens to consume her and shatter the fragile world she has built.

Mary Elizabeth Braddons Lady Audleys Secret is a captivating Victorian mystery novel that explores themes of deception, betrayal, and the consequences of societal expectations. The book is written in a suspenseful style, with intricate plot twists and a focus on the complexities of human nature. Set in the midst of the Victorian era, the novel provides a vivid depiction of the time periods social norms and expectations, making it a valuable piece of literature for those interested in historical fiction. Mary Elizabeth Braddon, a prominent Victorian author, drew inspiration for Lady Audleys Secret from the sensational literature of the time, as well as her own experiences in society. Braddons background as a trailblazing female writer in the 19th century undoubtedly influenced her portrayal of strong, complex female characters in the novel. Her keen understanding of human psychology and societal structures shines through in the intricate plot and character development of the book. I highly recommend Lady Audleys Secret to readers who enjoy classic mysteries with a touch of social commentary. Braddons masterful storytelling and insightful exploration of Victorian society make this novel a must-read for fans of historical fiction and literary thrillers.

El volumen incluye los siguientes relatos:- El rostro en el espejo.- Ella.- La sombra en la esquina.- La buena lady Ducayne.- Su última aparición.- El visitante de Eveline.