Our Lady of Darkness

"Our Lady of Darkness" by Bernard Capes is a late 19th-century novel that starts with the odd relationship between the showy old Viscount Murk, named Gustavus Hilary George, and his serious grand-nephew, Edward Murk, showing how different they are and suggesting the story will touch on vanity, freedom, and what society expects. The book kicks off with the characters in Cavendish Square, where their conversations reveal what they think about the world, the snappy back-and-forth highlights their different views on life, art, and what's right and wrong. Edward's journey to find himself and express himself artistically takes him to Méricourt, meeting interesting people like the mysterious Nicette and the open-minded M. de St Denys, hinting at a deeper story about the battle between old ways and new ideas, and people trying to find their place while society changes around them.