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The Gripping True Story Of Victorian Dream That Ended In Tragedy

Braden Ward

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A Victorian Woman Standing In Front Of A Mirror, Looking At Her Reflection. The High Girders: The Gripping True Story Of A Victorian Dream That Ended In Tragedy

The High Girders: The gripping true story of a Victorian dream that ended in tragedy

by John Prebble

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Print length	:	203 pages

In the Victorian era, there was a widespread belief in the power of dreams. People believed that dreams could foretell the future, reveal hidden truths, and even cure illnesses. This belief was so strong that many people would consult with dream interpreters to help them understand the meaning of their dreams.

One of the most famous Victorian dream interpreters was Artemus Ward. Ward was a traveling lecturer and humorist who claimed to have a gift for interpreting dreams. He would often give lectures on the subject, and he even published a book called "The Dream Book." In his book, Ward claimed that he could interpret any dream, no matter how strange or complex.

One of Ward's most famous clients was a young woman named Elizabeth Siddal. Siddal was a beautiful and talented artist who was engaged to the Pre-Raphaelite painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Siddal was deeply interested in dreams, and she often consulted with Ward to help her understand the meaning of her own dreams.

In 1852, Siddal dreamed a dream that would change her life forever. She dreamed that she was standing in front of a mirror, looking at her reflection. In the mirror, she saw a beautiful young woman with long, flowing hair. The woman in the mirror was dressed in a white gown, and she had a serene expression on her face.

Siddal was so taken with the dream that she told Rossetti about it. Rossetti was also impressed by the dream, and he encouraged Siddal to pose for a painting based on it. The painting, which Rossetti titled "The Lady of Shalott," became one of his most famous works.

However, Siddal's dream was not a happy one. In the dream, the woman in the mirror was not Siddal herself. She was a representation of Siddal's alter ego, a woman who was free from the constraints of her Victorian life.

Siddal longed to be the woman in the mirror, but she knew that she never could be. She was trapped in a life that she did not want, and she was slowly dying from consumption. In 1862, Siddal died at the age of 32.

The story of Elizabeth Siddal is a tragic one, but it is also a story of hope. Siddal's dream of a better life inspired Rossetti to create one of his most famous works of art. Her story is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, we can find hope and beauty in our dreams.

The High Girders: The gripping true story of a Victorian dream that ended in tragedy

by John Prebble

4.2 out of 5