Ardath: The story of a dead self follows the inner struggle of an author who seeks clarity beyond the disillusionment that shadows his life. The opening places him in a remote mountain landscape where a violent storm contrasts with the calm devotion inside a monastery, creating a striking divide between outer turmoil and inner peace. As he observes the monks, he confronts his doubt and wrestles with questions about belief, purpose, and the nature of the soul. The encounter with a mysterious spiritual figure introduces the possibility of transformation, prompting him to consider whether renewal can emerge from despair. His longing to escape emotional exhaustion becomes the catalyst for a profound search shaped by the tension between skepticism and yearning for truth. Through vivid settings and contemplative moments, the narrative blends mysticism with introspection, suggesting that personal rebirth requires confronting the deepest uncertainties within oneself. The story develops as a reflection on identity, spiritual awakening, and the quest to move beyond a fractured sense of self.
Marie Corelli can be considered the best-selling author of the Victorian era. She was so renowned that calendars were sold with citations from her books, and a series of postcards representing her could be purchased by her devoted readership. Everybody read Corelli's books, from the most basic shopgirl to Oscar Wilde and Queen Victoria herself. A Romance of Two Worlds, her first book, was distributed in 1886, and it turned her into a best-selling author in England and one of the favourites of Queen Victoria herself, who ended up ordering the complete collection of Marie's books. Despite the severe criticism, her books often managed to break sales records. Marie was the only writer asked to attend the coronation of Edward VII. Marie Corelli's books are inspired, magical, and philosophical. She volunteered to cure the universe's social ills. Among her best works are Barabbas (1893), Thelma (1887), The Expert Christian (1900), Wormwood (1890), The Mystery Power (1921), The Distresses of Satan (1895), The Existence Never-ending (1911), and Transient Power (1902). After World War I, her books were viewed as obsolete, and both interest and sales declined. She passed away in 1924.
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