Anne DeLong - Mesmerism, Medusa, and the Muse: The Romantic Discourse of Spontaneous Creativity

Anne DeLong is Assistant Professor of English at Kutztown University in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, where she teaches courses in nineteenth-century British literature and womens studies. Dr. DeLong is co-editor of The Journal of Dracula Studies. She also serves on the editorial board of Romantic Women Writers Reviewed. Her recent publications include a critical edition of Marie Corellis 1887 novel A Romance of Two Worlds and an online annotated version of Dracula.

This book reflects the provocative insights of several discerning readers in its early stages as a dissertation at Lehigh University. I am particularly indebted to my dissertation director, Elizabeth A. Dolan, for her feedback and encouragement. Rosemary Mundhenk, Alexander Doty, and Norman Girardot all gave generously of their time to read and comment on several drafts. Special thanks to Dina DeLong, with whom countless energetic conversations helped to clarify my arguments.

I am also indebted to the P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization) Sisterhood, both for the generous Scholar Award that funded my London research and for their friendship and support. Id also like to acknowledge the staffs of the Bodleian Library at Oxford University, the British Library, the Wellcome Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine, and Lehigh Universitys Linderman and Fairchild-Martindale Libraries, particularly the Inter-Library Loan staff. And, of course, the Lehigh University English department, for giving me the precious gift of time in the form of a dissertation fellowship.

Finally, warmest thanks are due my personal musesJimmy, Jake, Erika, and Momfor their patient support and unconditional love.

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