Written in English
This volume of Delicia and Other Stories by Marie Corelli was published in 1907 by Archibald Constable & Co. in London. Marie Corelli (1855–1924) was a best-selling novelist during the late Victorian and Edwardian periods, known for weaving together romantic, spiritual, and moral themes in her works. By 1907, she had already achieved significant commercial success and a wide readership, even if her literary style and sentimentality were sometimes critiqued by contemporary reviewers. This collection of short stories showcases Corelli’s flair for melodrama and her emphasis on virtue, faith, and the emotional nuances of human relationships.
Corelli’s writing often addressed the spiritual and moral questions that were prominent in her day, reflecting an era when readers were drawn to tales of personal salvation, love, and the supernatural. Edwardian Britain was a society in flux, grappling with the tension between traditional values and rapid social change. Corelli’s works catered to the appetite for uplifting or didactic fiction, offering escapism along with moral lessons. Delicia and Other Stories fits neatly into this cultural moment, providing both entertainment and reflective commentary on the human condition.
One of the notable features of this particular copy is its handsome half-leather binding. The spine and corners are bound in brown leather, while the boards are covered in a green cloth. The spine itself features raised bands and gilt tooling, including the year “1907” stamped at the foot, which lends an air of refinement. This style of binding would have been a step above a typical cloth-bound edition, suggesting it may have been a special order or produced for a collector who valued both the content and the aesthetic qualities of the book.
In essence, Delicia and Other Stories presents a series of short narratives that blend romantic plotlines with moral and spiritual elements. It can be remembered simply as a Marie Corelli collection that epitomizes early twentieth-century popular fiction, combining dramatic storytelling with a keen interest in moral uplift.
Condition:
Regarding its condition, the volume exhibits noticeable foxing throughout the pages, particularly toward the front matter, as seen in the spotting on the title page and early leaves. Nevertheless, the text remains fully legible, and the binding is intact and secure. The leather shows some minor rubbing along the edges and hinges, which is common for a book of this age, but overall, it retains an attractive appearance. The gilt lettering on the spine remains clear, and the cloth boards are relatively clean. Despite the foxing, this copy stands as a well-preserved example of a finely bound Edwardian edition of Marie Corelli’s work.
