Victorian mists as a safe harbor

Everyone has his own safe points. Historical or cultural, to which one returns from ramblings in outer space. To me, Victorian era was always this getaway destination, full of stories and nostalgia.

When it comes to history, Victorian era possesses the most romanticized allure. I think it's partly due to the Gothic movement and partly- to rapid development in technology and society. Victorian, so famous for their double standards, were always a fascination to me. I love medieval history, don't get me wrong. I adored the Tudors- and still do, but my soul is deeply Victorian in its best, psychologically inclined, Gothic themed way.

When I was younger, I think, I loved it for goriness and impeccable fashion sense. Now, it's more of a sad beauty the era possesses, and its emotional side. Something in me yearns for that, you know. Quite often, when autumn comes, I am drawn into the Victorian paths again and again,to find inner peace and inspiration - two things invaluable for a writer and a mom of three.

My heart still lives there, - and my literary tastes certainly have their base in Victorian times. Robert Louis Stevenson, Oscar Wilde, Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stokes- to name a few- are my autumnal anti-depressants. I visit them to get better acquainted with myself.

Each fall, however, one particular episode returns- that of Jack the Ripper. Odd, don't you think? But I think, my fascination with criminology began at a tender age of 11 or so, when I found the article on Jack in one of encyclopedias I used to reread. It's been more than 20 years, and this case has me still.

In the long list of suspects and stories revolving around the case, there is one I always had strange affection for - Montague John Druitt. I'll leave his Oxford times pucture here, just in case

There was something familiar there. I even had dreams about him, recurring ones- and this year he came back again. This time bringing a surprise along - a biography, written by D.J.Leighton.

Finally, I see some of my thoughts confirmed, and I must say, my sentiments correspond to some fact of his life and traits of personality which is a relief.

Something in him is reminiscent of a certain GC as well… but we'll be back to that later.

Now, I have to bow myself out of the picture to go and treat my dreaded autumnal cold.

Good day, as they used to say way back when

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