CHAPTER I

THE HEROINE OF THE STORY

A Bentley Letter--The Effect of a Publisher’s Advice on a Writer’s Career--The Success of “A Romance of Two Worlds” without help from the Press--The Unfairness of appointing Novelists to Criticise Novels or act as Publishers’ “Readers”--Marie Corelli’s Universality, and the Reason for it--Her Endeavors to Promote Holy Living--Her Unequaled Boldness--Which is her Best Book?--“Thelma” most Popular as a Love-story--Her Short Works--The Difficulty of awarding her a Definite Place in Letters 13