Marie Corelli was an English Victorian novelist born May 1, 1855 in London. Corelli was an advocate for the advancement of power structures for women at the end of her century. A recurring theme in Corelli's books is her attempt to reconcile Christianity with reincarnation, astral projection, and other mystical ideas. She explored a complex position of gender dinamics in her novels and is described to have been inspired to write by her life partner of forty years Bertha Vyer until her death. In addition to gender identity and morality, a common theme in Corelli's novels is the the spirit world is knowable and accessible. Bertha Vyer inherited Corelli's estate, served as her literary executor, and authored a biography of Corelli. Vyver was buried with Marie Corelli after her death. Their initials were carved, intertwined, on their mantlepiece alongside the words “amor vincit,” and they exchanged rings.
