Marie Corelli Books

Considered as one of her best fantasies, this fine tale of erotic horrors, transmigration of the soul and reincarnations from ancient Egypt culminates with a breathtaking climax in a secret underground chamber of a pyramid. A wild wonderful ride!

a wonderful, silly book brimming with turn-of-the-century fascination for the mysteries of Egypt and what was then (and maybe still is!) alternative spiritualism.

At first, "Ziska: The Problem of a Wicked Soul" may seem like an odd title for what is, in essence, a romance. It is perfectly appropriate, however, when one learns that the story is about the darker side of the kind of love that "many waters cannot quench . . . nor can the floods drown"--the only kind of love that Marie Corelli believed in.

The story revolves around the mysterious Princess Ziska, who captivates the set of European tourists who are escaping their continent's harsh winter, in exotic Egypt. In particular, she draws three men towards her--Denzil Murray, a Scottish highlander; Armand Gervase, a French painter; and Dr. Maxwell Dean, an English historian and Egyptologist--for very different reasons.

During a costume ball, she comes as her namesake, Ziska-Charmazel, a woman who lived during the reign of Amenhotep. At this point it becomes clear that she has a diabolical agenda that involves one of these three men--her Twin Soul, the reincarnation of Araxes, a great Egyptian warrior and lover of Ziska-Charmazel.

Corelli tells this tale beautifully. The foreshadowing is excellent and the pace never lags. She keeps the reader in total suspense until the ending--which is proper, as "Ziska" is a mystery story (with some juicy horror elements). Unlike her more well-known reincarnation romance, "The Life Everlasting", which had a perfectly predictable ending (not necessarily a bad thing), "Ziska" has a conclusion that is anybody's guess.

It may _still_ be anybody's guess. Though this novel was written only a mere century or so ago, it is dedicated to the present incarnation of Araxes. Where _he_ is, there Ziska-Charmazel shall also be. It's a nice, spooky thought.

Regarded by Corelli as a continuation of her "Romance of Two Worlds," she extends her occult theories and throws elements of science fiction into the midst. For example, she poses occult theories on electricity and radioactivity. Corelli had her own ideas and did not adhere to any popular or fantastical religious fad of her time. Reading her is definitely a bizarre and imaginative adventure.

This, along with 'Brothers of the Third Degree', 'Teachings of the Masters from the Far East', 'Dweller on Two Planets' and 'Prince of the House of David', present the earnest sincere seeker of the Light with the true laws of Life through these wonderful writings. This book presents a fascinating, challenging ideal about relationships and their purpose on the spiritual path. Exciting, intriguing, illuminating --- seekers keep it in their 'collection' and read it over and over for more illumination. Love it, love it, love it!

This is a baroque tale of a hero in love with a supernal angel but not yet worthy of union with her. It travels back in time 7000 years to a sweepingly fantastic world, undergoing transformative adventures. It's said that Corelli liked this book more than any of her others but it sold the least copies. Her publisher thought that it might have been "over the heads of the public." I must admit, it is wonderfully strange and hard to follow at times, but I kept reading because she is such a thoroughly original voice. I personally love her weirdness and this book has to be the weirdest one of them all!

This revision fantasy of the Crucifixion so alarmed her publisher that he refused to publish it saying "I fear the effect on the public mind!" Undaunted, Marie takes the book to a new publisher and Barabbas became one of her first international successes. It is the first book in a trilogy by Corelli where she reformed the whole history of Christianity and the devil to suit her own phantasmagorical faith. All three books contain elements of cynicism, brutality, and heresy wrapped inside a blanket of uplifting, often sentimental theosophic theories of the soul. Quite a dish to be served in Victorian times! I say Kudos, Marie! You really did listen to the beat of a different drummer and what a delight it is to revel in your rhythms!!

A Christmas Greeting was published at the height of her fame in a limited number and was elegantly bound for the gift giving season. Inside this reprint are a rather scarce collection of Marie's poems, essays, stories, and even a song - it includes a then popular story known as "The Ghost in the Sedan Chair" which is a lighthearted holiday 'ghost story' along with several other fantasies. Unlike her novels, her short stories don't have convoluted plot lines that take several pages to unfold. Therefore, you can enjoy the essence of Marie Corelli without getting lost in the middle. A fun way to introduce yourself to her work and her unique style of fiction.

Marie Corelli wrote this in a time when this subject was an absolute farce to most of the world. She puts things into perspective on how people react and become caught in the world today. Yes today. If you can read between the lines and open your mind you will find this book holds many wonderful secrets. Marie Corelli was selling hundreds of thousands of these books in her time which was unheard of, especially for a women. You can read and re-read this over and over and still find new ways of seeing and applying that which she brings to your attention. Wonderful book.

This book is a direct affront to the "High Decadence of the Yellow Nineties" and their moral deconstructions. Marie, although decadent and florid in much of her style and philosophy of writing, is at the same time rather morally strict in her own views of ethics and rules of conduct - especially in regards to spirituality.

A rather entertaining read if you have read her novels. Sort of makes you wish you could sit down and have a proper tea with the old gal and really get inside her head!

Grant Allen called Corelli in the pages of Spectator, "a woman of deplorable talent who imagined that she was a genius by a public whose commonplace sentimentalities and prejudices she gave a glamorous setting." Today, if Corelli were writing, she would be on the New York Times bestseller list and Oprah would probably read her and recommend her for her moral messages wrapped in a romping good plot with lots of drama and passion. Do you just love a good read and to damn with the literary critics? Then sink your teeth into this late 19th century novel and enjoy!

A lovely entrancing journey into the more spiritual and theosophic side of Corelli. More of a novella than a short story, it portrays Marie's deep love of mysticism and God. Enchanting!

If you like Faustian themes, then this book is for you. It combines a good reprise Faust, with elements of Pygmalion and a dash of Frankenstein as a sorcerer binds the soul of a dying girl to her body, obtaining thereby a female with whom he cannot help, despite the warnings, of falling in love. As with the first two, if you got hooked like I did, you will fall into this book despite yourself, and be absolutely mesmerized by the workings of this author's mind!