Trilby by George Du Maurier

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Trilby by George Du Maurier

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By Jacob Brown Posted on Dec 22, 2025

In Category - Hard Sci-Fi

Authors: Du Maurier, George, 1834-1896 Published By : Du Maurier, George, 1834-1896

Book Language: English

Okay, picture this: bohemian Paris in the 1850s, a group of artists, and a stunning, tone-deaf laundress named Trilby. She’s the muse of their studio until a truly sinister figure, the hypnotist Svengali, enters the scene. He discovers that under hypnosis, Trilby has the voice of an angel. This book is the original tale of obsession, artistic genius, and the dark power of control. It’s less about the music and more about who gets to own a person's soul. The word 'Svengali' entered our language from this story, and once you meet him, you’ll understand why.

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Typographical errors have been corrected. A list follows the etext. With a few exceptions, the spelling of French words has not been normalized or corrected. (note of etext transcriber) _SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION_ TRILBY A Novel _By_ GEORGE DU MAURIER AUTHOR OF "PETER IBBETSON" "THE MARTIAN" "SOCIAL PICTORIAL SATIRE" WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY THE AUTHOR [Illustration: "_Aux nouvelles que j'apporte, Vos beaux yeux vont pleurer!_"] NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL BOOK AND PUBLISHING COMPANY 1899 _This volume is issued for sale in paper covers only._ Copyright, 1894, 1899, by HARPER & BROTHERS. _All rights reserved._ [Illustration: "_IT WAS TRILBY!_" [See page 317]] _"Hélas! Je sais un chant d'amour, Triste et gai, tour à tour!"_ ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE "IT WAS TRILBY!" _Frontispiece_ TAFFY, ALIAS TALBOT WYNNE 4 "THE LAIRD OF COCKPEN" 5 "THE THIRD HE WAS 'LITTLE BILLEE'" 7 "IT DID ONE GOOD TO LOOK AT HIM" 9 AMONG THE OLD MASTERS 13 "WISTFUL AND SWEET" 17 THE "ROSEMONDE" OF SCHUBERT 21 TRILBY'S LEFT FOOT 27 THE FLEXIBLE FLAGEOLET 31 THE BRIDGE OF ARTS 34 "THREE MUSKETEERS OF THE BRUSH" 39 TAFFY MAKES THE SALAD 43 "THE GLORY THAT WAS GREECE" 47 TRILBY'S FOREBEARS 52 TAIL-PIECE 56 "AS BAD AS THEY MAKE 'EM" 59 "A VOICE HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND" 63 "AND SO, NO MORE" 67 "'TWO ENGLANDERS IN ONE DAY'" 70 "'HIMMEL! THE ROOF OF YOUR MOUTH'" 73 "'ÇA FERA UNE FAMEUSE CRAPULE DE MOINS!'" 77 "'AV YOU SEEN MY FAHZER'S OLE SHOES?'" 81 TAFFY À L'ÉCHELLE! 85 "THE FOX AND THE CROW" 89 THE LATIN QUARTER 92 CUISINE BOURGEOISE EN BOHÈME 95 "THE SOFT EYES" 98 ILYSSUS 101 "'VOILÀ L'ESPAYCE DE HOM KER JER SWEE!'" 105 TIT FOR TAT 111 THE HAPPY LIFE 116 "'LET ME GO, TAFFY...'" 119 "'QU'EST CE QU'IL A DONC, CE LITREBILI?'" 121 REPENTANCE 125 CONFESSION 129 "ALL AS IT USED TO BE" 133 "TWIN GRAY STARS" 135 "AN INCUBUS" 137 THE CAPITALIST AND THE SWELL 141 "'I WILL NOT! I WILL NOT!'" 151 DODOR IN HIS GLORY 153 HÔTEL DE LA ROCHEMARTEL 155 CHRISTMAS EVE 161 "'ALLONS GLYCÈRE! ROUGIS MON VERRE....'" 163 SOUVENIR 168 "MY SISTER DEAR" 173 A DUCAL FRENCH FIGHTING-COCK 175 "'ANSWER ME, TRILBY!'" 179 A CARY_HAT_IDE 180 "'LES GLOUGLOUX DU VIN À QUAT' SOUS....'" 183 "'IS SHE A _LADY_, MR. WYNNE?'" 187 "'_FOND_ OF HIM? AREN'T _YOU_?'" 191 "SO LIKE LITTLE BILLEE" 195 "'I MUST TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS'" 199 "'TRILBY! WHERE IS SHE?'" 203 LA SŒUR DE LITREBILI 205 "HE FELL A-WEEPING, QUITE DESPERATELY" 207 "THE SWEET MELODIC PHRASE" 211 "SORROWFULLY, ARM IN ARM" 215 DEMORALIZATION 225 FRED WALKER 227 _PLATONIC LOVE_ 230 "DARLINGS, OLD OR YOUNG" 235 "THE MOON-DIAL" 237 THE CHAIRMAN 239 A HAPPY DINNER 245 "A-SMOKIN' THEIR POIPES AND CIGYARS" 247 "BONJOUR, SUZON!" 253 A HUMAN NIGHTINGALE 257 CUP-AND-BALL 263 SWEET ALICE 267 "MAY HEAVEN GO WITH HER!" 272 "'SO MUCH FOR ALICE, TRAY'" 277 "'YOU'RE A _THIEF_, SIR!'" 287 "AN ATMOSPHERE OF BANK-NOTES AND GOLD" 293 "A LITTLE PICTURE OF THE THAMES" 296 "'AH! THE BEAUTIFUL INTERMENT, MESSIEURS!'" 301 "PAUVRE TRILBY". 303 "'JE PRONG!'" 307 "'OON PAIR DE GONG BLONG'" 311 GECKO 315 "AU CLAIR DE LA LUNE" 319 "OUVRE-MOI TA PORTE POUR L'AMOUR DE DIEU!" 322 "MALBROUCK S'EN VA-T'EN GUERRE" 325 "AUX NOUVELLES QUE J'APPORTE, VOS BEAUX YEUX VONT PLEURER!". 329 UN IMPROMPTU DE CHOPIN 331 "AND THE REMEMBRANCE OF THEM--HAND IN HAND" 338 "'I BELIEVE YOU, MY BOY!'" 341 "MAMAN DUCHESSE" 351 THE CUT DIRECT 354 "PETIT ENFANT, J'AIMAIS D'UN AMOUR TENDRE...." 358 "'VITE! VITE! UN COMMISSAIRE DE POLICE!'" 363 "I SUPPOSE YOU DO ALL THIS KIND OF THING FOR MERE AMUSEMENT, MR. WYNNE?" 367 THE FIRST VIOLIN...

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Set in the Latin Quarter of Paris, Trilby follows a trio of British artists—‘Little Billee’, Taffy, and the Laird—as they befriend Trilby O’Ferrall, a free-spirited Irish model and laundress. She’s charming and kind, but she can’t carry a tune to save her life. Their cozy world is invaded by Svengali, a magnetic but cruel Jewish musician and master hypnotist. He sees something in Trilby no one else can: under his spell, her terrible voice is transformed into the instrument of a legendary opera singer. He takes complete control of her, and ‘La Svengali’ becomes the toast of Europe, while the real Trilby seems lost forever.

Why You Should Read It

Forget the dusty classic label—this book is a page-turner. Du Maurier (grandfather of Daphne!) draws you right into that artists' studio; you can almost smell the paint and pipe smoke. The horror here is quiet and psychological. It’s not about monsters, but about the terrifying idea of someone else steering your life from the inside. Svengali is one of literature’s great villains—charismatic, repulsive, and utterly unforgettable. The story asks big questions about art, identity, and free will, but it wraps them up in a gripping, almost gothic plot.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who loves a story with a dark, hypnotic pull (pun intended). If you’re fascinated by Victorian-era tales with a gothic edge, complex villains, and a poignant look at the art world, this is your next read. It’s also a must if you’ve ever used the word ‘Svengali’ and wondered where it came from. Just be prepared to get very angry on Trilby’s behalf.

✅ Community Domain

This publication is available for unrestricted use. It serves as a testament to our shared literary heritage.