![]() Even when the phenomenon of firefly illumination was better understood, the sense of wonder that these creatures can create persisted. I move from these imaginative representations to consider how bioluminescence was understood by Victorians, and how the language of their investigations borrowed from a register of fantasy. Both fireflies and glow-worms were imaginatively linked to the fairy world, as we see in paintings as well as in writing. ![]() It shows how their metaphorical potential was readily exploited: fireflies were seen across cultures as synonymous with the soul glow-worms as humble creatures whose special qualities would nonetheless shine out. This article explores their evocative potential - not least for John Ruskin - to capture the magic of an Italian summer’s evening. Like their earthbound relatives, glow-worms, these unremarkable brown insects in daytime became otherworldly sparks of light by night. ![]() The beauty of fireflies captivated the imagination of Victorian poets, naturalists, short-story writers, and travel writers alike. ![]()
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