George Eliot

The Lifted Veil annotated George Eliot

The Lifted Veil is a novella by George Eliot, first published in 1859. Quite unlike the realistic fiction for which Eliot is best known. The unreliable narrator, Latimer, believes that he is cursed with an otherworldly ability to see into the future and the thoughts of other people. His unwanted "gift" seems to stem from a severe childhood illness he suffered while attending school in Geneva. A few words of dialogue appear to him exactly as expected. Latimer is revolted by much of what he discerns about others' motivations. After his brother's death, Latimer marries Bertha, but the marriage disintegrates as he recognizes Bertha's manipulative and untrustworthy nature. Latimer's friend, scientist Charles Meunier. Bertha flees and Latimer soon dies as he had himself foretold at the start of the narrative.