Marie Corelli

Marie Corelli Biography

Marie Corelli (1 May 1855 – 21 April 1924) was a British novelist who enjoyed a period of great literary success from the publication of her first novel in 1886 until World War I. Born Mary Mackay in London, she was the daughter of Scottish poet and songwriter Dr. Charles Mackay and his servant, Mary Elizabeth Mills. To conceal her illegitimacy, Corelli often fabricated stories about her parentage and upbringing, including claims of adoption or descent from Italian nobility.

In 1866, at the age of eleven, Mary was sent to a Parisian convent to further her education, returning home four years later in 1870. She began her career as a musician, adopting the name Marie Corelli for her performances. Eventually, she turned to writing and published her first novel, A Romance of Two Worlds, in 1886. Her works often attempted to reconcile Christianity with reincarnation, astral projection, and other mystical ideas.

Despite facing criticism from the literary elite for her melodramatic writing, Corelli was the most widely read author of fiction in her time. Her novels sold more copies than the combined sales of popular contemporaries, including Arthur Conan Doyle, H.G. Wells, and Rudyard Kipling. Notable works include Thelma (1887), Wormwood (1890), Barabbas (1893), The Sorrows of Satan (1895), and The Master-Christian (1900).

In 1899, Corelli moved to Stratford-upon-Avon, where she fought hard for the preservation of the town's 17th-century buildings. She lived with her companion, Bertha Vyver, for over forty years. Corelli died in Stratford on 21 April 1924 and is buried there in the Evesham Road cemetery.

Trivia About Marie Corelli

• Corelli's novels were collected by notable figures, including Winston Churchill and members of the British Royal Family.
• She was known for her eccentricity, boating on the Avon in a gondola brought from Venice.
• Despite her popularity, critics often derided her work as "the favourite of the common multitude."
• Corelli was convicted of food hoarding during the First World War, which affected her personal reputation.

Famous Quotes by Marie Corelli

• "I never deal in abstractions, and I always go to the heart of the thing I wish to say."
• "The world is a stage, but the play is badly cast."
• "It is the idle man, not the great worker, who is always complaining that he has no time or opportunity."

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who was Marie Corelli?

Marie Corelli was a British novelist who became the most widely read author of fiction in her time, known for her romantic and mystical novels that often attempted to reconcile Christianity with reincarnation and other mystical ideas.

What are some of Marie Corelli's most famous works?

Some of her notable works include A Romance of Two Worlds (1886), Thelma (1887), Wormwood (1890), Barabbas (1893), The Sorrows of Satan (1895), and The Master-Christian (1900).

How did Marie Corelli contribute to Stratford-upon-Avon?

After moving to Stratford-upon-Avon in 1899, Corelli fought hard for the preservation of the town's 17th-century buildings and donated money to help their owners remove the plaster or brickwork that often covered their original timber-framed façades.

Related Literary Movements

Marie Corelli's work is associated with the late Victorian and Edwardian eras, often incorporating elements of Gothic fiction, romantic melodrama, and mysticism. Her novels reflect the period's fascination with spiritualism and the supernatural.

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