"Trilby" is a novel set in the bohemian art world of Paris in the 1850s, where a young and impressionable English girl, Trilby O'Ferrall, becomes entangled with a group of artists, including the talented but weak-willed Little Billee. Under the sinister influence of the mesmerist Svengali, Trilby's singing talent is unlocked, and she rises to international fame, albeit at the cost of her own free will and health. The story explores themes of love, manipulation, and the power dynamics within relationships, set against a backdrop of art and music, ultimately leading to a tragic conclusion that reveals the limits of control and the resilience of the human spirit.

The 4661st greatest book of all time