Corelli, Marie, 1855-1924

Marie Corelli was an enigmatic and compelling personality whose colorful personal life and fertile imagination made her the most popular writer of her time. The narrative drive of her stories, combined with exotic settings and passionate conviction, helped overcome the stylistic concerns of literary critics to make her and her writing a phenomenon of turn-of-the-century popular culture.

From the description of Marie Corelli letters and postcards, 1894-1924. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 49848575

Pseudonym of Mary Mackay, English popular novelist.

From the description of Autograph letters signed : Earls' Court, [London]; and Killiecrankie Cottage, Nr. Pitlochry, Perthshire, to F.H. Fisher, 1895 June 21 and 1896 Aug. 4. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270125546

From the description of Autograph letter signed : to an unknown correspondent, 1906 July 23. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270125548

Born 1855. Adopted in infancy by Charles Mackay, a songwriter and litterateur, and brought up in England. Afterwards sent to France and educated in a convent, where she received musical training. Her first book, 'A Romance of Two Worlds', 1886, was an instant success and from that time she devoted herself to literature. Later resident at Mason Croft, Stratford-upon-Avon [now the Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham]. Died 21 April 1924. Publications: 'Vendetta', 1886; 'Thelma', 1887; 'Ardath', 1889; 'Soul of Lilith', 1892; 'Barabbas', 1893; 'The Sorrows of Satan', 1895; 'Mighty Atom', 1896; 'The Murder of Delicia', 1896; 'Ziska: the Problem of a Wicked Soul', 1897; 'Jane', 1897; 'Boy', 1900; 'The Master Christian', 1900; 'Temporal Power, A Study in Supremacy', 1902; 'God's Good Man', 1904; 'Free Opinions', 1905; 'The Treasure of Heaven', 1906; 'Holy Orders', 1908; 'The Devil's Motor', 1910; 'The Life Everlasting', 1911; 'Innocent, Her Fancy and His Fact', 1914; 'The Young Diana', 1917; 'My Little Bit, A Record of War Work', 1919; 'The Love of Long Ago', 1920; 'The Secret Power', 1921. [Compiled from 'Who Was Who, 1916-1928']

From the guide to the Manuscript for 'The Life Everlasting', by Marie Corelli, 1901, (University of Birmingham Information Services, Special Collections Department)

British novelist.

From the description of Marie Corelli collection, 1885-1932 (bulk 1892-1921). (Bryn Mawr College). WorldCat record id: 43422688

Marie Corelli was an English novelist, short-story writer, and essayist.

From the description of Marie Corelli, 1893-1955 bulk (1893-1945). (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122686829

From the guide to the Marie Corelli collection of papers, 1893-1955, 1893-1945, (The New York Public Library. Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature.)

Marie Corelli, British popular novelist.

From the description of Marie Corelli manuscript material : 1 item, 1896 (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 132680526

From the guide to the Marie Corelli manuscript material : 1 item, 1896, (The New York Public Library. Carl H. Pforzheimer Collection of Shelley and His Circle.)

Marie Corelli, British poet and novelist.

From the description of Marie Corelli collection, 1885-1947. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702148176

From the description of Marie Corelli collection, 1885-1947. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 81186972

English author.

From the description of Letters [manuscript] : London, to [Michael?] Ciardiello, 1889-1892, n.d. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647830882

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Glasgow, to Mr. Bovill, 1904 Sept. 25. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270519651

Mary Mackay, who is known by the pseudonym Marie Corelli, was born in London in 1855. Her parentage is uncertain, but it has been argued that her adoptive father, the poet and song writer Charles Mackay, was her biological father as well. She was trained in music, and in 1884 made her debut as an improvisational pianist, but her musical career was short-lived. Corelli achieved far greater success as a writer; her novels, many of which deal with spiritualism, were extraordinarily popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, although they received little critical acclaim. She died in 1924.

From the guide to the The Marie Corelli Collection, 1880-1927 (inclusive), (Irving S. Gilmore Music Library, Yale University)

Marie Corelli was the pen name of Mary MacKay, born May 1, 1855 in Bayswater, London, England; she was the best selling author of her time, writing 27 novels, several collections of short stories, a book of verse, and a number of essays; most popular works include The sorrows of Satan, or, The strange experiences of one Geoffrey Tempest, millionaire : a romance (1895), Thelma : a society novel (1887), and Barabbas : a dream of the world's tragedy (1893); died Apr. 21, 1924.

From the description of Papers, ca. 1880-1930. (University of California, Los Angeles). WorldCat record id: 38000062

British poet and author.

From the description of The Marie Corelli collection, 1880-1927 (inclusive). (Yale University). WorldCat record id: 122369959

From the description of The Marie Corelli collection, 1880-1927 (inclusive). (Yale University). WorldCat record id: 702190948

Biography

Marie Corelli was the pen name of Mary MacKay, born May 1, 1855 in Bayswater, London, England; she was the best selling author of her time, writing 27 novels, several collections of short stories, a book of verse, and a number of essays; most popular works include The Sorrows of Satan, or, The Strange Experiences of One Geoffrey Tempest, Millionaire: A Romance (1895), Thelma: A Society Novel (1887), and Barabbas: A Dream of the World's Tragedy (1893); died April 21, 1924.

From the guide to the Marie Corelli Papers, ca. 1880-1930, (University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.)