Barabbas

«Barabbas: A Dream of the Tragedy of the World» — a novel by Marie Corelli, first published in 1893. The story is a fictional account of the life of Barabbas, a notorious criminal released by the will of the people... instead of Jesus Christ during the trial before Pontius Pilate. Through the character of Barabbas, Marie Corelli reveals the spiritual transformation of a sinful soul that, having come into contact with the Divine, arrives at repentance, inner purification, and rebirth. The novel invites reflection on the nature of sin, forgiveness, and eternal values, emphasizing the relevance of the Gospel story even a thousand years later. Corelli's vivid descriptions and poetic language create a surreal and otherworldly atmosphere.
The work is part of Marie Corelli's «Religious Trilogy,» which consists of the books «Barabbas,» «The Sorrows of Satan,» and «The Christian Teacher.»
Marie Corelli (1855—1924) was one of the best-selling British authors of the late Victorian and Edwardian eras. Corelli's success was enormous, so much so that she was the only writer invited to the coronation of Edward VII.
Corelli was a very eccentric woman. For instance, she brought a gondola named «Dream» (along with a gondolier) from Venice to row on the River Avon. Before she favored this mode of transportation, she used to travel around the city in a phaeton drawn by a pair of Shetland ponies, Pack and Ariel.
She bewildered critics and self-proclaimed heavyweight writers but captured the interest of the average audience with the large and complex questions she posed in her books.