Corelli, Marie

ko-rel'lee, Marie (1864-), an English novelist. She was born in Italy and became the adopted daughter of Charles Mackay, the poet. The name Corelli was used in the first instance as a pen name, but has become her legal name. Her best known works are A Romance of Two Worlds, Barabbas, The Sorrows of Satan, Thelma, Vendetta, The Mighty Atom. Miss Corelli's stories have enjoyed a wide popularity, but it is doubtful whether they possess qualities which will give them permanent place in literature. Some of them have a distinctly religious tone, having been written apparently with the express purpose of combating atheistic views. The best display some power in character drawing, great ease and freedom of expression, and are intense in feeling and sentiment. When the author strives for the dramatic, however, she usually reaches only the sensational.