May. Thackeray’s Catherine in Fraser’s (seven instalments…

“To the extreme of this feeling I was ever a victim. The heavy responsibility, often suddenly and unexpectedly imposed—the struggle for success, when success…

— John William Polidori

“Ay,’ he continued, as if unaware of my presence, ‘blessed indeed are they who die in the Lord; but the wicked man and the…

— John William Polidori

“I answered in the affirmative; and he continued—‘Then you must be aware that if my son Edward were, which God forbid, the unprincipled, reckless…

— John William Polidori

“Hitherto, Aubrey had had no opportunity of studying Lord Ruthven’s character, and now he found, that, though many more of his actions were exposed…

— John William Polidori

“SIR,—Although I sent the following narrative to an Edinburgh newspaper, with the editor of which I was well acquainted; yet he refused to give…

— John William Polidori

“Her earnestness and apparent belief of what she narrated, excited the interest even of Aubrey; and often, as she told him the tale of…

— John William Polidori

“There is a kind of crystallization in the circumstances of one’s life. A peculiar turn of mind draws to itself events fitted to its…

— John William Polidori

“Courage, my dear fellow,’ said I, ‘there is no space too great to allow of the sun’s rays enlivening it—neither is that heart in…

— John William Polidori

“The morning after I received this message, I arose and resumed my usual occupations; but from whatever cause it may have proceeded, I felt…

— John William Polidori

“Yes,’ said he, half aloud, ‘a few links bring all life before us: here is adventure—excitement—the toil and the triumph of the body. I…

— John William Polidori

“But now the rest of the adjoining cotters rose in a body, and insisted on turning me out. Is it not strange, Sir, that…

— John William Polidori

“Some one had that day been buried, and less care than is usual had been taken in closing up the grave, for, as I…

— John William Polidori

“I have likewise heard it stated, that one boy fell a-kicking the coffin on his way to the grave, who is still living and…

— John William Polidori

“Bah, bah!’ cried the old man petulantly. ‘Human nature is the same in all ages and countries. Every day—every city—produces some monstrous wickedness, secret…

— John William Polidori

“that the old man should insist upon his son studying medicine and surgery, when every one knows he will inherit at least ten thousand…

— John William Polidori