Art and the Transitional Object in Vernon Lee's Supernatural Tales

By integrating psychoanalytic theory with socio-historical criticism, Patricia Pulham examines Vernon Lee's fantastic tales through the lens of D.W. Winnicott's 'transitional object' theory. She posits that the past in Lee's narratives represents both historical and psychic dimensions. The 'ghosts' in her supernatural fiction symbolize intricate meanings crucial to Lee's intellectual growth, enabling her to navigate alternative identities and express transgressive sexualities.