Chapter I: Front Matter

(A Corner Glimpse in Winter)]

MARIE CORELLI

The Writer and The Woman

By
T. F. G. COATES
Author of “The Life of Lord Rosebery”

and

R. S. WARREN BELL
Author of “Bachelorland,” etc.

WITH 16 FULL PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS

PHILADELPHIA
GEORGE W. JACOBS & CO.
PUBLISHERS

Copyright, 1903, by
George W. Jacobs & Company,
Published June, 1903

Preface

Miss Marie Corelli’s unique personality has aroused interest and curiosity among all classes of society, and we are aware that the present work will be diligently searched for intimate information regarding the subject of these pages. It behooves us, therefore, to remind those who peruse this volume that the writing of contemporary biography is a most delicate literary performance; so, while it has been our aim to set before the public as many particulars as possible concerning Marie Corelli the Woman--as distinct from Marie Corelli the Writer--it will be apparent to the least intelligent of our patrons that, in common courtesy to Miss Corelli, it is possible for us to publish only a limited number of personal minutiæ concerning the novelist during her lifetime.

In making a general survey of Miss Corelli’s various books, we have endeavored, in each case, to quote such passages as may be read with interest independently of the context, or such as tend to explain the spirit animating the novelist whilst engaged upon the volume under treatment.

It has been our endeavor to keep this biographical study free from offense to any living person, or to the memory of any who have passed away. In cases where we have found it necessary to refer in vigorous terms to the words or conduct of certain individuals, we have been actuated solely by a desire to have justice done to Miss Corelli. And in this respect we prefer not to be regarded as her champions so much as “counsel” briefed for the defense of a woman who has had, and still has, to contend with a very great number of adversaries, not all of whom are in the habit of conducting their warfare in the open.

In conclusion, we beg to offer Miss Corelli our grateful thanks for permitting us to have access to letters, papers, and other documents necessary to authenticate our facts, as without such permission we could not have undertaken our task.

THOMAS F. G. COATES,
R. S. WARREN BELL.

_March, 1903._

Contents

CHAPTER I

THE HEROINE OF THE STORY

A Bentley Letter--The Effect of a Publisher’s Advice on a Writer’s Career--The Success of “A Romance of Two Worlds” without help from the Press--The Unfairness of appointing Novelists to Criticise Novels or act as Publishers’ “Readers”--Marie Corelli’s Universality, and the Reason for it--Her Endeavors to Promote Holy Living--Her Unequaled Boldness--Which is her Best Book?--“Thelma” most Popular as a Love-story--Her Short Works--The Difficulty of awarding her a Definite Place in Letters 13

CHAPTER II

MARIE CORELLI’S CHILDHOOD, ETC.

Marie Corelli, Adopted as an Infant, by Dr. Charles Mackay--Description of Mackay’s Career--The “Rosebud” and her Fancies--Absence of Child Playmates--Marie Corelli at the Convent School--Her Musical Studies--Dr. Mackay’s Illness, and her Return Home for Good--Miss Bertha Vyver--George Eric Mackay: his Chequered Career--“Love-Letters of a Violinist”: their Publication and Reception 26

CHAPTER III

“A ROMANCE OF TWO WORLDS”

Its Original Title--The MS. Accepted by Bentleys--Its Name Suggested by Dr. Mackay--The Press and the “Romance”--Its Reception by the Public, and its Effect on Readers--Marie Corelli and the Supernatural--Synopsis of Plot--Heliobas and his “Electric Creed”--X-Rays and Wireless Telegraphy foretold in this Book 48

CHAPTER IV

“VENDETTA” AND “THELMA”

Mr. Bentley’s Opinion of “Vendetta”--Practically a True Story of Naples during the Cholera Epidemic of 1884--The Remarkable Ingenuity of its Construction--The Novelist’s Habit of Creating a Pretty Picture only to Destroy it, as Exemplified by the Opening Chapters of “Vendetta” and After Events--The Appalling Ferocity of Count Fabio and the Culminating Scene of his Vengeance.

Mr. Bentley’s Enthusiastic Comments on “Thelma”--The Story Compared with “She,” to the Latter’s Disadvantage--A Romantic Setting--The Main Theme of the Book--Thelma’s Bewilderment at the Hollowness of Society--Her Husband’s Alleged Unfaithfulness--Her Flight to Norway and the Sequel--Miss Corelli’s “Unsparing Brush”--The Weak Spot in the Book--Thelma’s Winning Personality 64

CHAPTER V

“ARDATH”

Its Theme--Congratulations from Lord Tennyson--A suggested Corelli City in Colorado--An Example of the Novelist’s Descriptive Powers--Theos Alwyn, Agnostic--His Interview with Heliobas--The Dream and the Poem--The Field of Ardath--The City of Al-Kyris--Sah-Lûma, the Poet Laureate--The Religion of Al-Kyris--Lysia, High Priestess of the God-Serpent--The Prophet Khosrûl and his Predictions--The Fall of Al-Kyris--The Awakening of Alwyn and his Return to London--The Converted Poet--“Ardath” a Book for all who Doubt--Six Tests for Spiritualists 79

CHAPTER VI

“WORMWOOD” AND “THE SOUL OF LILITH”

Pauline de Charmilles: a Character Sketch--Her Engagement to Beauvais and the Arrival of Silvion Guidèl--“First Impressions”--Pauline’s Confession and Beauvais’ First Bout of Absinthe-drinking--The Exposure on the Wedding-Day--More Absinthe, and the Murder of Guidèl--The Meeting between Beauvais and Pauline, and the Suicide of the Latter--Pauline’s Corpse at the Morgue--A Denunciation of Absinthe--A Suggestion to Marie Corelli Concerning the Drink Question in this Country.

“The Soul of Lilith” an Attempt to Prove the Apparently Unprovable--A Reason for Marie Corelli’s Immense Popularity--El-Râmi and the Dead Egyptian Girl--His Experiment--Heliobas again--“The Two Governing Forces of the Universe”--“Poets are often the Best Scientists”--“The Why, Why, Why of Everything”--A Solution of Life’s Problems 112

CHAPTER VII

MR. BENTLEY’S ENCOURAGEMENT

The Thorny Path of the Literary Pilgrim--Old Publishers and New--Mr. George Bentley an Honorable Example of the Former Type--The Happy Relations that existed between Miss Corelli and her Publisher--A List of the Novelist’s Works Published by Bentleys--Mr. Bentley’s Appreciation of “Ardath”--His Refusal to make Overtures to the Press--A Reference to Miss Rhoda Broughton and the Treatment dealt out to her by Critics--Mr. Gladstone’s Visit--Concerning “Wormwood”--Maarten Maartens and his Opinion of “Ardath”--Press Attacks on “The Soul of Lilith”--The Late Queen Victoria and Marie Corelli’s Books--A Comment on the Chivalry of the Press--A Carlyle Anecdote--Mr. Bentley as Author--His Book: “After Business”--The Inestimable Value of Mr. Bentley’s Advice to the Young Novelist 134

CHAPTER VIII

“BARABBAS”

Charles Kingsley and “Women’s Writings”--Marie Corelli’s Idea in Penning “Barabbas”--The Character of “Judith”--St. Peter’s Definition of a Lie--The Character of Jesus of Nazareth--Melchior’s Speeches--The Treacherous Caiaphas--The Magdalen--The Scene of The Resurrection--The Tragedy of Love and Genius 152