Rappaccini's Daughter

In "Rappaccini’s Daughter," a short story from the British Library's Tales of the Weird collection, celebrated author Nathaniel Hawthorne delves into the world of botanical Gothic. Set in the enchanting city of Padua, the narrative follows a university student who becomes infatuated with a young woman residing in a garden filled with deadly plants cultivated by her father, the enigmatic botanist Giacomo Rappaccini. As the student learns more about the mysterious maiden, he uncovers unsettling truths about her connection to the garden and its dangerous flora.