Mortal Love

Mortal Love follows multiple storylines across different time periods, centered around a mysterious green-eyed woman who appears throughout history. The main narrative tracks between Victorian London, 1970s London, and the present day. American painter Radborne Comstock arrives in contemporary London to research the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and their possible connection to Celtic folklore. Meanwhile in 1970s London, young writer Daniel Rowlands becomes entangled with an enigmatic woman who seems to inspire and destroy creative men. In Victorian times, painter Jacobus Candell encounters a similar figure who drives him to both artistic heights and personal ruin. The novel explores the relationship between art, inspiration, passion and madness through interconnected tales of obsession. At its core lie questions about the nature of creativity itself - whether genius comes at the cost of sanity, and what price artists pay for their work.

Readers report this is a complex, non-linear story that requires close attention to follow the interconnected plotlines across different time periods. Readers appreciated: - The rich, detailed writing style and vivid descriptions - How it blends historical figures with fictional characters - The atmospheric Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite elements - The way it weaves together art, folklore and supernatural elements Common criticisms: - The shifting timelines and perspectives are confusing - The plot becomes hard to follow in the middle sections - Some found the pacing slow - Several readers said they struggled to connect emotionally with the characters Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (2,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4/5 (50+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "Beautiful prose but I often felt lost in the narrative" - Goodreads reviewer "The atmosphere and writing are stunning but the story itself is difficult to track" - Amazon reviewer "Like a Pre-Raphaelite painting come to life, but requires patience" - LibraryThing reviewer

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⚜️ Elizabeth Hand wrote Mortal Love while living in a cottage on the coast of Maine, drawing inspiration from the region's moody atmosphere and rich folklore. 🎨 The novel weaves together three interconnected storylines across different time periods, all linked by the presence of a mysterious muse-like woman with green eyes. 🖋️ The book's exploration of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and their art was influenced by Hand's extensive research at London's Tate Gallery and various Victorian archives. 🌿 The character of Larkin Meade was partially inspired by real-life "fatal women" of the Victorian era, including Elizabeth Siddal and Fanny Cornforth, who served as muses to several Pre-Raphaelite artists. 🎭 Many of the novel's supernatural elements draw from Celtic mythology, particularly the concept of the leanan sídhe—a beautiful fairy woman who offers inspiration to artists but ultimately brings them to ruin.