Genius Loci.

London: Grant Richards,, 1899. First edition, first impression, of this collection of travel essays by one of "the greatest of modern exponents of the supernatural in fiction" (Summers, p. 1). Vernon Lee (Violet Paget, 1856-1935) had written several studies as an art historian under this pseudonym before turning to fiction. "To the role of woman of letters she added the dimension of travel writer, becoming one of the finest, most original of all time. She published seven collections of travel essays in her lifetime, from Limbo and other Essays in 1897 to The Golden Keys and other Essays on the Genius Loci in 1925. In each she transforms the conventional genius loci genre of travel writing through a unique sensitivity to place and a particularly graceful style. Vernon Lee's gift in these essays for easily combining imagination with great learning would later be admired by Aldous Huxley and Desmond MacCarthy" (ODNB). Octavo. Original buckram, gilt lettering to spine and front cover, top edge gilt, others untrimmed. Bookplate of the Grosvenor Gallery Library to rear cover. Spine and extremities rubbed, occasional bump to edges, faint offsetting and couple of light marks to endpapers, contents a little shaken, clean throughout. A very good copy. Montague Summers, The Supernatural Omnibus, 1931.