Review of “Amour Dure” by Vernon Lee: Halloween Countdown

For October 3

Plot:

Polish scholar Spiridion Trepka, working for a German university, is in Italy researching the archives of the fictional town of Urbania. He has come to find the Past.

He comes across the story of Medea di Capri, a 16th-century noblewoman who left a trail of dead husbands and lovers and was finally executed by her brother-in-law, Duke Robert, at the age of twenty-seven. She was reputed to be a striking beauty. Spiridon finds a couple of likenesses of her and becomes entranced by a miniature showing her wearing a necklace with the words, “Amour Dure—Dure Amour” (“love endures, hard love.”)

His obsession with Medea grows to the point where he neglects his work. One day, a letter arrives in what he believes to be Medea’s handwriting, asking him to meet her at a particular church. It must be a hoax. Medea has been dead for centuries—but he goes.

And he finds the church in much better shape than he expected.

Thoughts:

The story is told as a series of entries in Spiridion’s diary. It opens slowly, with more mentions of artists and sculptors than seems necessary. The author is building an atmosphere thick with Renaissance art and intrigue. She also creates a sense of black magic: Medea, in Greek mythology, was a witch. She fell in love with Jason, but when he betrayed her, she killed their children.

Medea di Capri’s magic lies in her beauty and ability to get men to do just about anything for her. But she’s also abused by her society and family. She was engaged at the age of twelve to a cousin (ICK), but after some misfortune in her family, the cousin’s family broke off the engagement. Spiridon reads the records of husbands’ violent deaths. Why is he attracted to her? The reader knows this will not end well.

I’m not quite sure what to make of this one. The thick atmosphere was a little heavy. Poor Spiridion knew Medea’s track record with men. He falls in love with the likenesses he finds of the long-dead woman. Why does he keep pursuing her and doing the oddball things she seems to be asking? Will it be different this time?

Bio: Vernon Lee is a pseudonym for Violet Paget (1856-1935). Paget is best known as a writer of supernatural fiction. She was born in France to British parents but lived in Italy, the setting for much of her fiction. She also wrote essays on art, music, and travel.


The story can be read here.

I could find no free or easily accessed audio recordings of this story.


Title: “Amour Dure”
Author: Vernon Lee (Legal Name: Violet Paget) (1856-1935)
First published: Murray’s Magazine, January 1887