Product Description
The Secret Power is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by Marie Corelli is in the English language. If you enjoy the works of Marie Corelli then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fascinating reading!
A romance takes place in a hidden city of immortals discovered by an intrepid heroine in the Egyptian desert.Passion is married to the spiritual quest in this reincarnation romance that will charm as well as titillate with its quirky delightful ambiance.Quite Dishy!

Vivid imagination and fascinating prose
I still remember, opening my father's dusty trunks filled with books in our attic and being introduced to the strange world ofMorgana Royal. It was Corelli's indomitable Morgana who inspired me to choose a career in Engineering, and the notion that for a woman nothing is impossible if thereis a thirst for knowledge.

Through the years Morgana, with her greatintellect and sarcastic wit has continued to be my inspiration. Corelli'sprose is rich and vivid., and she makes Morgana believable and endearing.Bitterly cynical, the book rings with criticism of human society and men inparticular, but it is Morgana who captures the readers imagination. Thestory contains some fantastical arguments about Miss Corelli's mysticalbeliefs, but still makes good reading. ... Read more

Product Description
This Elibron Classics book is a reprint of a 1914 edition by Hodder and Stoughton, London, New York, Toronto. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Nice story about the treatment of women
This is a pretty good story of a girl on a farm who discovers that she is a foundling and goes off to London where she becomes famous. Corelli's writing is fairly simple, but she keeps the story interesting by creating emotional, believable characters. She does a very good job developing the girl's progression from naivete through downfall, though I found the downfall to be a bit sudden and overdone. A favorite theme of the author's is how men like to control women, and how men disapprove of women expressing their intellect and artistic ability. I'm guessing that Corelli was a victim of that treatment, and wrote about it in the hope of getting men to realize the idiocy of it.

I just finished a book similar to this one, with two female leads and acompletely different ending- Infelice by Augusta Wilson. ... Read more

Product Description
The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Fiction / Classics; Fiction / Horror; Fiction / Religious; Fiction / Romance / Fantasy; Fiction / Christian / General; History / Ancient / Egypt; Philosophy / Metaphysics; ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great Read
My mother read this book in the mid 1930's and told me about it.I was surprised how well this book kept me interested and finished reading it in one weekend.

Ziska Zings!
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 Thrilling Tale
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.

A Reincarnation Romance
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. ... Read more

Product Description
Subjects: Pantheism -- FictionNotes: This is an OCR reprint. There may be numerous typos or missing text. There are no illustrations or indexes.When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. You can also preview the book there. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Regarded as the most influential occult novel of its time!
This novel is Corelli's premiere in the world of fiction.It features dream-magic, mesmerism, with many and varied opium-induced occult powers complete with a world-weary & emotionally crumbling heroine on a quest for the meaning of life - resulting in a cosmic journey by means of astral projection with an angelic guide, embodying a trip to utopian Saturn, to technologically bizarre Jupiter and to the center of the universe, the place of creation, where God dwells in electrical form.Corelli combines weird science and spiritualism. It is a wild and strange trip to dip into Corelli's world but worth the ride.A delectably fantastic combination of feminine occult powers combined with sci-fi surrealism.

Electricity and Occult Christianity.
_A Romance of Two Worlds_ by Victorian novelist Marie Corelli is a majestic tale full at once of mystery, intrigue, romance, and the occult revealing the inner meaning of Christianity in beautiful prose.Marie Corelli was an English novelist of the Victorian era who was much criticized in her day for her scathing criticism of the materialism, positivism, and scientism popular in the late Nineteenth century as revealed in her novels.This novel expounds an occult theory of Christianity based on electricity.At the same time however, the author decries the excesses of spiritism that had made their way to fill in the gap left by materialist philosophy.The author does not espouse any particular creed of Christianity, though this novel focuses upon Catholicism; however, her theory of the occult essence in electricity is unique.This is what makes up her "Electric Creed of Christianity".The book includes an introduction and preface written by the author as well as an appendix containing letters testifying to the uniqueness of Marie Corelli's spiritualism.Corelli was obviously influenced by Swedenborgianism and Theosophy as well which can be seen in the novel in several places.

This novel tells the tale of the author, a pianist, who has become ill with a physical depression due to overwork.At the request of her doctor, who has run out of cures, she is advised to leave London and head for warmer climes.She travels with two friends, an American colonel and his wife.She arrives in Cannes where she meets the artist, Raffaelo Cellini, who has acquired an amazing system of color and who offers to paint her portrait.Although she is ill, she decides to allow him to do so.While Cellini is painting her portrait he offers her a magic elixer which provides her with three visions of a mysterious individual known as Heliobas.She is to find out that Heliobas is the artist's master and that he had saved Cellini from a similar depression.She is given a book to examine which reveals the hidden spiritual meaning in music and she also meets Heliobas' incredible Newfoundland dog Leo who travels back and forth from Paris where Heliobas resides bringing messages.Cellini agrees to have her meet Heliobas who will be able to cure her through his wonderful electrical powers.The author travels to Paris where she meets Heliobas and is given special potions which enable her to make a full recovery.She also meets Heliobas' sister Zara, a sculptress impressive in her own right, and their friend Prince Ivan.Heliobas is a mysterious Chaldean who has mastered the art of electricity.He allows the author to experience entirely new realms, including interplanetary travel in which she sees for herself the glories of God, the angelic being Azul (Heliobas' "twin soul"), her own guardian angel, and the mysteries of Christianity.All of this is accomplished through what Marie Corelli calls "electricity".Zara herself is possessed of special electrical powers and wears a special stone which serves to channel her electrical charge.The book encompasses at once mystery, romance, tragedy, and yet it offers hope through Christian belief against the materialism and atheism of the age.Throughout Corelli notes how many have scoffed at traditional belief in Christ and that few will understand her novel or its inner meaning.The novel also offers philosophical proof for the existence of God and the truth of God incarnate as Christ.The writing is beautiful and majestic, truly appealing to the inner soul.This novel remains a unique experience among Victorian writers and represents the first attempt of Marie Corelli at writing novels.

Extremely occult . . . and extremely beautiful
To which literary genre does "Romance of Two Worlds" belong? It has sci-fi, fantasy, and occult elements. It offers some adventure, some romance, and some mystery. What is most striking, however, is that the plot is about a spiritual quest--the kind everyone feels the need to begin, sooner or later, when the world's answers no longer satisfy one's questions.

Marie Corelli's nameless narrator represents the seeking soul in all of us. Yet, at the beginning of the story, she appears to have given up the search. Unlike those who have never bothered to search and do not mind being in the dark, she is wasting away in mind, body and spirit. Then she meets a mysterious painter who asks to do her portrait. It is in his studio that she has her first supernatural experience, which rejuvenates her body and rekindles her need to find the answers.

Her first teacher is another mysterious figure, a Chaldean named Heliobas. (It is hinted in some chapters that he may be one of the identities of the Avatar known as the Comte de St. Germaine. I'm keeping an open mind.) Naturally, most of the world sees him as eccentric and frightening: his strange experiments with electricity and his radical takes on everything (including the books of the bible) make him a fascinating teacher to those who have "eyes to see and ears to hear," but a threat to society to those who remain in the dark.

Here is how Corelli's writing can be so off-putting. Nobody likes thinking that he or she is in the dark about anything; yet Corelli stoutly implies that this must be so for those who do not believe in her blatantly occult themes. Then she goes on to combine occult and Christian elements, creating a bizarre form of esoteric Christianity that she presents as TRUTH.

Yet let's not quibble over terminology. So what if Corelli believes that the soul is literally electric and that Heaven is a great electric circle? Other writers have made similar guesses about the soul and about Heaven, using safe words like "love" or "light." When we read that Jesus' body was electrically charged, which was why he could heal through touch, we can at least be impressed by the spunk it took to say such a thing in Victorian England.

Ultimately, everyone gets to write the story of his or her soul's search for God and to discover that the many different stories are just retellings of the same one. This retelling is particularly lovely, due to Corelli's descriptive and reverent style. It is with great passion that the heroine declares: "I desire to know why this world, this universe exists; and I also wish to prove, if possible, the truth and necessity of religion. And I think I would give my life, if it were worth anything, to be certain of the truth of Christianity."

I don't want to reveal the reason why the novel's title is "Romance of Two Worlds", because behind it is a fascinating twist that I think all readers should discover on their own. Don't worry that the book is all dialogue and teaching, however, as the plot takes many unexpected turns.

Other books in what has been called the "Heliobas triology" are "Ardath" and "The Soul of Lilith". However, it is "The Life Everlasting" that is the proper continuation of "Romance of Two Worlds", as it leads our heroine to a romance of her very own.

A wonderful spiritual adventure!
I was compelled to read from cover to cover and the left the Romance inspired with renewed hope....renewed spirit.You might also like ANGELES IN HARSH WORLD, by Don Bradley.Another wonderful, mystical adventure.

A GREAT CREATIVE WRITER, BUT TERRIBLE PHILOSOPHER.
I read Marie Corelli's first mystical novel The Romance of Two Worlds after being told that it was the favorite novel of Queen Victoria and Italy's Queen Margherita.I thought the language was beautiful and, alas,majestic.Marie Corelli possessed a brilliant mind, she spoke so cleverlyabout everything.Every logician would agree that The Romance of twoWorlds is a convincing long argument in which Marie Corelli tries toconvince the public of her beliefs.However, the problem with her argumentis that it contains every one of The Major Informal Fallacies.Especiallythe appeal to force (argument ad baculum), for example: believe in God, orforever be condemned.Indeed, this is what makes the novel (or argument)faulty; at the prologue of the novel she disputes the fallacies ofdifferent theorists, and yet makes fallacies of her own throughout thebook!This book is very creative and descriptive - a very beautifulpicture of England during an age of universal inquiry and universalskepticism - but utterly unbelievable. The reader, unless ignorant, won'tbelieve a word Corelli says - and shouldn't. ... Read more

Product Description
Imagine friends and family believed you were dead from the Cholera-Imagine being buried alive and awakening in your coffin - Now, imaginea frantic escape from the rotting crypt only to discover something worsewaiting in store....Thus begins Marie Corelli's 1886 Victorian suspense-thriller, Vendetta.Awakening to find he has been prematurely buried, Fabio narrowly escapesfrom his decrepit family mausoleum in order to seek revenge upon thosewho have wronged him. Disfigured from the Cholera, Fabio assumes a newidentity and name, and re-introduces himself to his family who are unawareof his true character. The plan he sets in motion is gruesomely terrifying -and deliciously perverse.More than a novel of revenge, Vendetta is a finely tuned character studyof madness, obsession, decadence, and a celebration of Gothic settingsunrivaled by even Edgar Allan Poe. Impossible to put down, it is easy tosee why Marie Corelli was called the Queen of Victorian best-sellers,for Vendetta remains as spellbinding today as it was over a century ago. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Disappointing
This is the second novel by Marie Corelli that I've read; the first being 'Sorrows of Satan'. It is, indeed, a great read. However, I believe intending purchasers should be made aware of the actual quality of this particular publication by Zittaw Press. In short, it is probably the worst example of the publisher's art I've ever encountered. At times it seemed as if every page contained a major typographical error. I'm well aware that peculiar spellings are sometimes found in early works of literature and support the idea that they should be maintained in new editions but these are obviously typographical errors, not simple spelling errors. In addition, the layout is flawed (on more than one occasion chapter headings appear at the foot of the previous page). I have purchased quite a large number of Zittaw's publications and have been prepared to overlook many of the simple spelling errors that appear in them ('Varney the Vampire' for example). This is, without doubt, their worst offering to date. Whoever was given the responsibility of proofreading this book before it went to press needs to consider whether it is worth their while continuing in the role. Lift your game Zittaw. People pay money for your productions and deserve much better.

Fabulous Classic!
I've come to actually enjoy reading scary books again thanks to Curt Herr's revival of 18th century Gothic literature.This story, among the others he has brought back to the life, is intriguing and frightening from every angle.The main character Fabio's journey into insanity is provocative, spell-binding and is a test to our own morals.What's even more bewitching is that a young female writer (Corelli) of the time this book was first published had an imagination that pales to those of the menial mystery or horror novels we see on the newsstands today. Her vivid descritptions of old Italy and the Mediterranean sea create for the reader a landscape where one would think nothing can go wrong.(Oh, but it does!)Also, her uncanny ability to write from the male point of view is marvelous.Herr, once again, through his engrossing introduction and notes, walks the reader through the pivotal matrixes of a time when deceit, death and the supernatural most-daringly put to words our deepest fears.The climax of "Vendetta" will put a shiver through your bones. ... Read more

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ReadHowYouWant publishes a wide variety of best selling books in Large and Super Large fonts in partnership with leading publishers. EasyRead books are available in 11pt and 13pt. type. EasyRead Large books are available in 16pt, 16pt Bold, and 18pt Bold type. EasyRead Super Large books are available in 20pt. Bold and 24pt. Bold Type. You choose the format that is right for you.

This is Volume Volume 2 of 2-Volume Set.To purchase the complete set, you will need to order the other volumes separately: to find them, search for the following ISBNs: 9781427013842

In this narrative Corelli has beautifully combined her fancy with the realities of life. Even the theories of science are employed by her that help her to create a unique piece of literature. With a mysterious atmosphere pervading the whole narrative, this is a highly engrossing work.

To find more titles in your format, Search in Books using EasyRead and the size of the font that makes reading easier and more enjoyable for you.

Customer Reviews (1)

Interesting Story
My dad read this novel as a young man and when I was old enough he gave me his battered, torn copy with a rubber band wrapped around it. It is about a young woman, Thelma, who lives in Scandinavia with her grandfather and a mysterious creature who lives in a cave. A group of young Enlishmen come to Scandinavia to fish. There Sir Philip meets Thelma and falls in love with her. There is a mystery about who and what happened to Thelma's parents.

Sir Philip takes Thelma to England and "high" society. Thelma doesn't have anyone to teach her "Society ways." She is appalled and hurt by the comments and innuendos of the society matrons. Thelma listens and believes the gossip that she hears. The story is resolved as Thelma and Sir Philip come to and understanding of each other's backgrouds. ... Read more

Product Description
1911. More Corelli Metaphysical Fiction! Contents: The Fairy Ship; Angel of a Dream; A Bunch of Heather; An Unexpected Meeting; Recognition; Memories; Visions; Doubtful Destiny; Strange Associations; One Way of Love; A Love-Letter; The House of Aselzion; Cross and Star; A First Lesson; Shadow and Sound; The Magic Book; Dreams Within a Dream; The Unknown Deep; Into the Light. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Tale of Immortality, Visions and Numerous Reincarnations!
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.

For the Sincere Seeker of Truth
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! ... Read more

Product Description
Publisher: Chicago : HenneberryPublication date: 1900Notes: This is an OCR reprint. There may be typos or missing text. There are no illustrations or indexes.When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. You can also preview the book there. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

No for everyone
Marie Corelli is not easy reading, but I love her. She writes from another time in history (late 1800's?). There is Christian imagery, but lots of spirituality of the immortal invisible kind. The kind dreamed about by the English poets of the lakes. Her stories really tap into romance in the invisible realms which really appeals to me since "your love" will love you unconditionally without prblems! Incredibly idealistic and somewhat naive, I know, but I'm happy and I love my dreams!

Sequel to "A Romance of Two Worlds."
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! ... Read more

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The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: English fiction; Body, Mind ... Read more

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PREFACE.
't.~ those who read the following pages should deem this
otory at all improbable, it is perhaps necessary to say that its
chief inC:lcIents arc founded on an actual occurrence which took
place in Naples during the last scathing visitation of the
cholera in 16~4. Ve know well enough, by the chronicle of
daily journalisn1: that the infidelity of wives is, most unhappily,
becoming common-far too common for the peace and
good repute of SOClety. Not so common is an outraged husband's
vengeance-oot often dare he take the law into his own
hands-for in Englana, at least, such boldness on his part
would doubtless be aeerned a worse crime than that by which
he personally is doomed to ~tlffer. But in Italy things are on
a different footing-the ver-baslt)' and red-tape of the Jaw, and
the hesitating verdict of special Juries, are not there considered
sufficiently efficacious to soothe a titan's damaged honor and
ruined name. And thus-whetner rJght or wrong-it often


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Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, History, Folklore and Mythology.

Forgotten Books' Classic Reprint Series utilizes the latest technology to regenerate facsimiles of historically important writings. Careful attention has been made to accurately preserve the original format of each page whilst digitally enhancing the difficult to read text. Read books online for free at http://www.forgottenbooks.org ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Like to purchase
Dear Sir,
I would like to purchase the book but I prefer to have its movie no matter vhs or dvd.
Please advise if it is possible to get a movie of VENDETTA, THE STORY OF ONE FORGOTTEN.
Thanks
Regards
Abdul Latif Al ulama

Gothic Thriller!
Compared to Bulwer Lytton, the greatest of Victorian occult romancers, this novel has been praised for its narrative strength and brutal gothicism, depicting a premature burial in cholera-ridden Naples of 1884, with a gut-wrenching climax of revenge.Gothic, rather than supernatural, this second novel of Corelli sparked her onto further success to become one of the most widely read authors in Victorian England.If you are new to Corelli, then you are in for a wild ride!

A Pot-Boiler Only Victorians Could Produce
First, let me correct some errors about the publicationdate of the book."Vendetta" was first published by Bentley (a firm famous for such writers like Wilkie Collins and Ouida, later bought by now famous Macmillan) in 1886, immediately after the unexpected success of supernatural "A Romance of Two Worlds."The author, Marie Corelli was, though now forgotten, to be THE bestselling author of late Victorian era with the publication of "The Sorrows of the Satan," 9 years later, surpassing even Conan Doyle in popularity, and "Vendetta" surely shows some of her skill as a creator of melodrama.

It is narrated by an Italian hero, Fabio Romani, who is accidentally buried alive (!) in the epidemic-ridden village.He somehow returns home, only to find that his wife has beenunfaithful to him, having an affair with his best friend (!!).Using disguise, he comes back to take a revenge on them.It is obvious that the story is borrowed from authors like Dumas (remember "Count of Monte Cristo"), but its power is not lost even today.If you like this kind of melodrama, try it.

This book is master of suspense.
I read this book in 1972. I have never read a book like it since then. From start to finish, I was not distracted by anything more important than reading it. I took it to a restaurant with me and I over stayed my welcomereading it.. I was told to give room to others who might want to come infor lunch.I didn't realize that I had stayed that long. I apologizedandleft with the understanding that the owner had the right to make money,regardless how much I liked the book.

A BEAUTIFUL BOOK OF SAD TRAGEDY.
Vendetta or the story of one forgotten is a book whose great beauty is in the plot and the personal tragedy of the characters involved.The plot was set in pre-industrial europe during the time of the plague.The count was a man of courage and honor who not mindful of his priviledgedposition went out of his way to help his subject and in the process contracted the plague and presumably died and was buried or DID HE? A must reading for all lovers of romance. Definitely 5*****. ... Read more

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More Corelli Fiction! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Weird and Wonderful!
As with other Corelli novels, weird meets the occult meets science fiction meets passion and romance and then meets spiritual redemption.Plot lines are fuzzy at times but not to the point of not wanting to turn the pages! ... Read more

Product Description
A Simple Love Story. ... Read more

Product Description
The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: English fiction; Fiction / Action ... Read more

Product Description
The Sorrows of Satan (1895) was one of the first modern bestsellers and was influential in establishing some of the major trends in twentieth-century bestselling fiction.The story takes place in London in 1895, and the Devil is on the loose. Britian is all but totally corrupt.Everything and everyone is up for sale, and it takes a special kind of moral courage to resist the Devil's seductions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Elibron Kindle version really better
If you don't like typos, the Elibron version of THE SORROWS OF SATAN, the costlier of the two Kindle versions currently available, is genuinely better.

The other one has not only typos, but quote marks separated from the quotes they enclose by a space, so that you often get quotes isolated at the end or beginning of lines.

The Elibron version is in the special formal typeface used on Kindle by some of the Oxford classics, and therefore page turning will be a little slower, but it's much more handsome and readable, and has comparatively no typos at all.

Downloading samples will show the difference. Strangely, SORROWS is not available through Gutenberg in any form, though Gutenberg has other and even more popular Corelli novels.

Book Review of "Sorrows of Satan"
It's one of those books that change the path of you life ... you've got to read it to know what I mean ;)

a great book
A master piece of a novel. This is the type of book that deserves its right to be a classic.
Marie Coreeli plays with life and nature in a scary way.
Basic Plot, is about a man seeking vanity and realizing it isn't all that it was ranked up to be. Sounds like a recycled plot, until you add the Devil in the mix and an excellently crafted story.
Truly an excellent read

Sorrows of Satan
This book is woth reading by any one who wants to understand life. The battle of life, the battle between good and bad. I read this book many years back, but lost my copy. I have now replaced a lost treasure.

A very thought-provoking book.
I first read this book 12 years ago and I must say - its not an ordinary book. While I don't agree with her views on the "good-nature" of the devil and the possibility of his redemption, her views that man's quest for so called reality are most times vain, can't be faulted. Every human being should read this book. However, I'd recommend reading the truth from the bible before commencing this journey. The book changed my thinking - made me realise that the things that men mostly seek and die for, are really vain.

A great book. Will always have it in my collection. ... Read more

Product Description
The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Fiction / Action ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Return Of Heliobas
In 1889, Marie Corelli published "Ardath: The Story of a Dead Self".It was her fourth novel and a sequel of sorts to her first book "A Romance of Two Worlds".Many of the weaknesses of her first three books are still evident in this one.There are the almost endless paragraphs which carry on for pages; the long speeches by characters voicing, quite often, the views of Corelli on society and religion; the characters who are flawlessly good, though admittedly there are fewer of them evident in this novel and very fewof their opposites who are without some positive characteristics.As with her third novel, "Thelma: A Norwegian Princess", Corelli divides this novel into three books.

The novel opens with the book "Saint and Skeptic" which introduces us to the narrator and main character Theos Alwyn.A poet who has lost his muse, and suffers as so many of Corelli's characters do from a loss of faith.Alwyn has spent his life chasing fame and seeks, and finds in the very first chapter the renowned Heliobas, whom he believes can help him gain fame and fortune.The method he desires is the out-of-body experience detailed in Corelli's first book.Heliobas tries to correct Alwyn's opinion of himself (as a mesmerer) and address his lack of faith, but Alwyn is resolute, both in his beliefs as well as his demands of Heliobas.As a result Heliobas tries to refuse, but is surprised when Alwyn has such power within him to force it to happen.When Alwyn returns, he writes a poem in a trance like state before gaining full consciousness.Heliobas helps him to learn about what he experienced and what it means and to nurture Alwyn's new faith.However, even before Alwyn sets out to find the field of Ardath where his Angel has told him to come, his faith has started to fade to his long-time skepticism.By the time Alwyn gets to Ardath, he is very skeptical of all, including his fair Edris when he meets her in human form and his lack of faith drives her away.When he realizes what he has done, he falls to the ground among the flowers of Ardath.

The second section is "In Al-Kyris", and for me it is this section which elevates this work above Corelli's previous writings.Alwyn awakes in a field outside a great city, with very little of his memory available, though able to speak the language of those who live there.He is forced to enter the city, and there he becomes a great friend to Sah-luma, the greatest poet of Al-Kyris and one who saves his life from a crowd who is about to kill him for disrespecting their priestess.Through the course of this section, the largest of the book, the reader clues into Alwyn having been transported back in time around 7,000 years.He has a connection to Sah-luma, as he believes that Sah-luma's poems are his own, but then starts to question his own belief.The reader will often be ahead of the story, but that is not an issue because it is an enjoyable ride.Where Corelli hinted at fantasy in her previous works, this section it comes into full bloom, along with the occult and her Christian beliefs.This section also includes at the end another meeting between Alwyn and Edris, and this time it is a much more harmonious reunion.Alwyn's faith has been fully restored, he has become what he should have been, and no longer pursues fame and riches for he now has found something much more important.

The third section is "Poet and Angel", a much shorter section than the second one, it brings Alwyn back to his old world, and easily shows how he has changed through the reactions of his long time friend, Francis Villiers.Fame has come to Alwyn in his absence, but he is not interested in it, and when society tries to demand his attention, he sets it on its ear with his open declarations of faith.Well in evidence in this section are Corelli's beliefs, as she puts them into the words spoken by Alwyn, Villiers, and Heliobas, who turns up on his way to Mexico.There does not seem to be much purpose to this section of the book, other than to pontificate a bit, though there is a story-line about Alwyn not wanting to ask Edris to become mortal and share his life on Earth.So Alwyn is determined to perform as best he can in trying to enlighten people and liberate them from the confines of the organized religions while looking forward to his departure after his life is over.Once again the reader is well ahead of the story, and so it is no surprise how the book ends.

While the first book is about on par with her other writings, and the last book I could have done without, overall the meat of this novel is in the second book and because of that it is easy to rate this novel above the others she wrote previously.The strong fantasy and occult elements work well and it is easy to see why Marie Corelli considered this as one of her best works.
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Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Deliciously Heretical!
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!! ... Read more

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Life Everlasting : A Romance of Reality
I loved this book and starteda journal beacause of it. It is not for everyone surely. If you have trouble with mystical themes this is not the book for you. If you are on a spiritual quest and seeking esoteric answers this book could help fill a void and light a path far less traveled. It's answers are only hinted at and couched in obscure prose at times but if you can accept reincarnation and twin souls this book can be an enlightening and uplifting experience opening you to new trains of thought. For those that like the tried and true and their stories cut and dried this will anger and frustrate you leave it alone. For the mystical dreamer, the spiritual seeker with the heart of a romantic idealist, this is the book you've been looking for. This is not a book for a religious person but an old soul trying to remember it's way back home. It can truely change your life if your a soul in search of answers. Marie Corelli was a true mystic and a visionary psychic she foresaw TV, Atomic Power and X-rays all before their discovery and was a very victorian lady not a scientist but she is an aquired taste. It is a ray of light in a cruel, harsh world. I would recommend this book to any esoterically minded individual with an open mind and willing spirit. ........If you like this title try " Ardath" and" A Romance of Two Worlds " by the same author. Happy Reading! ... Read more

Product Description
Partial Contents: Heroine of the story; Marie Corelli's childhood; A Romance of Two Worlds; Vendetta and Thelma; Ardath; Wormwood and the Soul of Lilith; Mr. Bentley's encouragement; Sorrows of Satan; Barabbas; The Mighty Atom and Boy; Murder of Delicia and Ziska; The Master Christian; Temporal Power; Speeches and Lectures; Marie Corelli's views on marriage; Some personal items; At Stratford -on-Avon. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Eulogy and Propaganda
This eulogistic and contemporary study of Marie Corelli and her vast success reveals as much, if not more, of the writers' own personal prejudices as it does about Corelli.The writers see Corelli as a great propagandist for what is right and wrong in the world, and thus attempt to excuse or expiate her own tendency for hypocrisy and an inability to know her own mind.This is an insight into one kind of her contemporary admirers, but does her less justice than the more even handed biographies of Eileen Bigland and Brian Masters. ... Read more