Svengali
Svengali, fictional character, the villain of the romantic novel Trilby (1894) by George du Maurier.
The name Svengali became synonymous with an authority figure or mentor who exerts undue, usually evil influence over another person.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.
Citation Information
Article Title:
Svengali
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
27 December 2024
Access Date:
November 14, 2026