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the great empire of the
Christian Religion is being assailed, or politely ignored by governments and public speakers and teachers, I realize to the fullest extent how daring is any attempt to prove, even by a plain history of strange occurrences happening to one's self, the actual existence of the Supernatural around us; and the absolute certainty of a future state of being, after the passage through that brief soul-torpor in which the body perishes, known to us as Death.
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83:'s first novel, published in 1886. It referenced the contemporary debate between creationism and evolution, as well as supernatural themes, overlaid with elements of science fiction. The book was an immediate commercial success, establishing Corelli as one of the most popular writers of the time, though like much of her subsequent work, it was negatively received by critics.
153:—an act that began a lifelong feud between Caine and Corelli. Suspecting that the novel might have commercial appeal, Bentley agreed to publish it, and Corelli signed a contract on 5 September 1885, earning 40 pounds immediately, with an additional 30 pounds to be paid if sales reached 600 copies, and again if they reached 750.
129:, which prompts Ivan to challenge Heliobas to a duel, and persuades Heliobas not to kill Ivan. Heliobas leaves Paris, assuring the heroine that they will meet again. In the conclusion, the heroine reflects on what she has learned from Heliobas since the events of the story, asserting a historical basis for
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silk. The spirits share with her the secrets of the universe and the nature of Christ, as well as a premonition that
Heliobas's own salvation is in danger. When she awakes, Heliobas bestows upon her his treatise on the "Electric Principle of Christianity", which is reprinted in the book, as well as a
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Despite this, the book was a success with the reading public, and within six months of publication, Corelli reported to
Bentley that letters from appreciative readers were "pouring in every day". After twelve months, Bentley published a second edition in one volume as part of his "Favourite" series.
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in this cultivated age a wall of skepticism and cynicism is gradually being built up by intellectual thinkers of every nation against all that treats of the
Supernatural and Unseen, I am aware that my narration of the events I have recently experienced will be read with incredulity. At a time when
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wrote that "as a pure romance... the book is a tolerable thing enough. If the writer intends us to take it seriously—as her preface seems half to suggest—it is pure bosh." Another single-line review simply read "Miss
Corelli would have been better advised had she embodied her ridiculous ideas in a
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Zara and I became inseparables; we worked together, read together, and together every morning gave those finishing-touches to the ordering and arrangement of the household which are essentially feminine, and which not the wisest philosopher in all the world has been, or ever will be, able to
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A young improvisational musician in London experiences a debilitating depression. Her doctor is unable to help her and sends her off on a holiday where she meets a mystical character by the name of
Raffello Cellini, an Italian painter who has rediscovered the secret of vivid, lightfast
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108:. He introduces her to his sister Zara, a sculptor, with whom she enjoys a close friendship, and to Prince Ivan, a rakish figure who pursues an unrequited attraction to Zara. She witnesses Ivan attempt to assault Zara, who repels him with electric power similar to that of an
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Many believe that the book is autobiographical, a belief which
Corelli encouraged. One passage describing the main character's relationship with a female friend, Zara, has been identified as possibly inspired by Corelli's lifelong companion
26:
116:, granting health and longevity as well as other powers. Heliobas prescribes plant remedies to the heroine, which cause her health to steadily improve and enable her to cultivate these supernatural powers. Under the influence of a
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The book was not well reviewed by critics, a circumstance which publisher George
Bentley anticipated, writing to Corelli that "I think it will provoke much adverse criticism". A critic for
257:. She also argues that Christ did not come to us as a sacrifice because God is a creator of love and beauty and could not desire "a bleeding victim as sacrifice to appease His Anger ".
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Her scripture, "The
Electric Principle of Christianity", included in the novel, is presented as something factual and after the publication of the book generated a
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accomplish successfully. We grew to love each other dearly, with that ungrudging, sympathizing, confiding friendship that is very rarely found between two women.
96:. Cellini offers her a strange potion which immediately puts her into a tranquil slumber, in which she experiences divine visions, which causes her symptoms of
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and other miracles. She states that she expects her story to be received as a fiction, but reaffirms her belief that the universe is electric in nature.
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draught, she meets her unnamed guardian angel, who whisks her through infinite solar systems faster than a shooting star while human spirits fly by like
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was among the book's fans, writing to
Corelli, "I have read the book over again... you certainly tell of marvellous things in a marvellous way."
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to be published in only one. Ultimately, it was printed in either two or three volumes, and became available for sale on 19 February 1886.
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149:. Bentley took an interest in the book after receiving highly divided reports from readers, including a very negative one from novelist
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112:. From this, the protagonist gleans that the arts practised by Heliobas enable the strengthening of a human organ similar to a
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gave measured praise, writing that "considered as a romance, pure and simple, it may entertain its readers not a little."
241:. However, her insights are futuristic, including ideas about electricity, solar power, and the properties of the atom.
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This edition included a new introduction by Corelli, and an appendix with quotes from readers' letters.
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to somewhat abate. Cellini directs her to take up residence in Paris under the tutelage of Heliobas, a
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Christian and "electric physician" who performs miraculous feats including prophecy, telepathy and
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Masters claims it was published in two volumes. Waller claims it was published in three volumes.
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document on the stewardship of her newfound electric powers. She witnesses Zara's
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In several chapters Corelli hints that the character Heliobas may be the
217:, in which readers sought more information about her experience. Today,
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294:, Count A. di Guinotti. Heliobas appears in two other Corelli novels,
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Writers, Readers, and Reputations: Literary Life in Britain 1870-1918
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Now Barabbas Was a Rotter: the Extraordinary Life of Marie Corelli
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Introduction: Romance of Two Worlds, second printing 1887
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Though it was most common at the time for novels to be
233:, Marie Corelli takes on an old argument between the
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145:in 1885. She sent the story to publisher
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353:"Marie Corelli & her Occult Tales"
221:devotees hail Corelli as "inspired".
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156:Corelli initially titled the story
244:She explains in the introduction,
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529:Reviews of the book on amazon.com
515:'s section on writings about the
749:Innocent: Her Fancy and His Fact
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531:also reflect this belief system.
1:
635:public domain audiobook at
591:. Oxford University Press.
351:Salmonson, Jessica Amanda.
137:Composition and publication
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729:Wormwood: A Drama of Paris
253:The book is suffused with
175:published in three volumes
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769:Love and the Philosopher
285:Fraternitas Rosae Crucis
19:A Romance of Two Worlds
826:Novels by Marie Corelli
689:A Romance of Two Worlds
632:A Romance of Two Worlds
615:A Romance of Two Worlds
587:Waller, Philip (2006).
231:A Romance of Two Worlds
179:A Romance of Two Worlds
143:A Romance of Two Worlds
76:A Romance of Two Worlds
582:. London: H. Hamilton.
519:(accessed 2009-01-28).
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261:Real-life inspirations
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503:A typical example is
287:identifies him as an
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739:The Sorrows of Satan
505:Two Worlds of Mackay
281:Count of St. Germain
196:sixpenny pamphlet."
821:1886 British novels
177:, Corelli intended
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300:The Soul of Lilith
127:death by lightning
836:1886 debut novels
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620:Project Gutenberg
554:"Freeman B. Dowd"
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387:, pp. 54–55.
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141:Corelli composed
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793:(1903 biography)
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67:Ardath
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468:Waller 2006
426:Waller 2006
397:Waller 2006
208:Oscar Wilde
163:Called Back
118:psychedelic
815:Categories
569:References
292:hierophant
289:Illuminati
151:Hall Caine
699:Vendetta!
517:afterlife
326:Citations
255:Pantheism
192:The World
185:Reception
158:Lifted Up
43:Publisher
637:LibriVox
578:(1978).
237:and the
122:gossamer
102:Chaldean
94:pigments
87:Synopsis
509:archive
219:New Age
47:Bentley
772:(1923)
762:(1918)
752:(1914)
742:(1895)
732:(1890)
722:(1889)
719:Ardath
712:(1887)
709:Thelma
702:(1886)
692:(1886)
680:Novels
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296:Ardath
225:Themes
33:Author
511:) in
306:Notes
593:ISBN
298:and
79:was
58:1886
618:at
229:In
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