63 Quotes by Theodora Goss

MARY: Hysterical mutism is most often associated with trauma, such as an assault of some sort. I learned that in Vienna, when we were discussing symptoms of madness before Diana was—CATHERINE: Could you please not spoil the plot for our readers? You can talk about researching symptoms of madness all you want when I get to Vienna. I mean when you get to Vienna, later in the narrative.

DIANA: You never appreciate me, even when I’m being nice!MARY: It was nice of you to defend me like that, Diana. I did appreciate it, you know. I do appreciate it, even now.DIANA: Well, you’re my sister. I mean, you’re annoying, and you have a stick up your—Catherine doesn’t want me to say that word anymore—but you’re still my sister.MRS. POOLE: That may be the most affectionate thing I’ve heard you say, Miss Scamp.DIANA: Go back to your kitchen, you old (unprintable).

It occurred to me that there have always been selkie women: women who did not seem to belong to this world, because they did not fit into prevailing notions of what women were supposed to be. And if you did not fit into those notions, in some sense you weren't a woman. Weren't even quite human. The magical animal woman is, or can be, a metaphor for those sorts of women.

BEATRICE: You make me sound so dramatic, Catherine!CATHERINE: Well, you are dramatic, with your long black hair and the clear olive complexion that marks you a daughter of the sunny south, of Italy, land of poetry and brigands. You would be the perfect romantic heroine, if only you weren’t so contrary about it.BEATRICE: But I have no desire to be a romantic heroine.MARY: Brigands? Seriously, Cat, this isn’t the eighteenth century. Nowadays Italy is perfectly civilized.

This is magnificent,” said Justine. “I’ve never seen anything like it. But I can’t make out the artist’s name?”“It’s by a friend of mine,” said Irene. “His name is not known outside of Vienna, but it will be—I think someday soon, all of Europe will be talking about Gustav Klimt. I was the model for this one. I don’t know if you can see the resemblance.

MARY: Are our readers going to know what the Athena Club is?CATHERINE: They will if they read the first two books! Which they should, and I hope if they are reading this volume and have not read the previous ones, they will go right out and purchase them. Two shillings each, a bargain at the price!

MARY: How in the world are our readers going to know who Miss Jenks is? She was only in the first book.CATHERINE: Then they should go back and read the first book. It’s only two shillings, at bookshops and train stations. I would have mentioned that, but you told me to stop advertising!

My name is Carmilla,” said the woman. “I’ve come from Mina, in Budapest. I think it’s time you were rescued from this place. Don’t you think?

Friendship and chocolate cake – they do not heal all ills, but they certainly help.