A BLIGHTED LIFE. A BLIGHTED LIFE. BY THE RIGHT HON. LADY LYTTON. A True Story. WITH THREE ILLUSTRATIONS. London: THE LONDON PUBLISHING OFFICE, 3, Falcon Court; 32, Fleet Street, E.C. 1880. [ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.] ILLUSTRATIONS. EDWARD, LORD LYTTON. ROSINA, LADY LYTTON.—(COPYRIGHT.) ROBERT, LORD LYTTON. PREFACE. “THE BLIGHTED LIFE,” by the Rt. Hon. ROSINA, Lady LYTTON, with the Supplemental Notes which seemed necessary to make it complete, is now presented to the world in a perfect form; and the Editor hopes, that as it is one of the most interesting, so it will prove likewise one of the most useful of books. It details, in a highly graphic manner, a narrative of persecution of the most base and unmanly kind, practised by a wicked Man of great talent and resources, upon a Noble Lady, who had hardly anything to defend her but a high spirit, a consciousness of innocence, and a resolve not to be crushed. This man had all the help that Power, and the Plots of guilty Associates could give him; he was himself false, cruel, cunning, and unscrupulous; and yet he was foiled by Lady LYTTON, alone and almost unaided, except by the Voice of Public Opinion, which conquered the devices of both Court and Cabinet—for we believe that each was implicated in this most foul transaction. The Volume contains Three Portraits; one of Lady LYTTON, which is now for the first time given to the world; but which hardly does justice to her beauty, intellect, and grace: a Portrait of her husband, highly flattered; for almost every low and evil passion was traced indelibly on that odious countenance; and it was impossible to look upon him for any time without feelings of disgust and even horror: the third is that of her Son, the present Lord LYTTON, on whose conduct in this business we forbear to comment; we leave the consideration of it entirely to the public. As the handwriting of Nature developes in the features, the eyes, the forehead, and the mouth, the true character of the soul and spirit within, we recommend a careful contemplation of these Portraits to all students in physiognomy, and think they will find, as they examine, a confirmation of their own best experience in this most interesting branch of science. Lord LYTTON the First hid his mouth with his moustache and beard, because he was too conscious of its frightful expression to let it be seen.