Ethel Lilian Voynich

Ethel Lilian Voynich, ne Boole was an AngloIrish novelist and musician, and a supporter of several revolutionary causes. She was born in Cork, but grew up in England. Voynich was a significant figure, not only on the late Victorian literary scene, but also in Russian migr circles. She is best known for her novel The Gadfly, which became hugely popular in her lifetime, especially in Russia.

Ethel Lilian Boole was born onMay 1864, at Lichfield Cottage, Blackrock, Ballintemple, Cork, the youngest daughter to the mathematician George Boole , and the feminist philosopher Mary Everest, who was the niece of George Everest and a writer for Crank, an early20thcentury periodical. Her father died six months after she was born. Her mother returned to her native England with her daughters, and was able to live off a small government pension until she was appointed librarian at Queens College, London. When she was eight, Ethel contracted erysipelas, a disease associated with poor sanitation. Her mother decided to send her to live in Lancashire with her brother, believing that it would be good for her health. Described as a religious fanatic and sadist, who regularly beat his children, he apparently forced Ethel to play the piano for hours on end. Ethel returned to London at the age ten. She became withdrawn, dressing in black and calling herself Lily.

Source: Wikipedia