The Sorrows of Satan. Barabbas

Marie Corelli is the pen name of English writer Mary Mackay (1855–1924). Her novel "The Sorrows of Satan" (1895) became one of the largest literary events of the Victorian era. It was an extraordinary success with readers, breaking all possible sales records. When critics turned against the writer, Oscar Wilde supported her, whose novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray," written five years earlier, largely anticipated the emergence of "The Sorrows of Satan." Addressing the popular plot of a deal with the devil, Marie Corelli created one of the most ambiguous images of Satan in world literature: a character who does not wish evil but creates it, tempting people while living in hope that they will overcome their desires and cease to sin.

In the novel "Barabbas" (1893), the writer turned to the events of the evangelical story. The main character is a criminal named Barabbas, whom Pontius Pilate released instead of Jesus Christ at the crowd's request. Interestingly, the novel was translated into Russian by personal order of Nicholas II, who highly appreciated this work. Even today, Marie Corelli's novels justly enjoy the love of readers.