Jane: A Social Incident

by Marie Corelli

Mary Mackay (1855-1924), was a British novelist. She began her career as a musician, adopting the name Marie Corelli for her billing. She gave up music, turning to writing instead and in 1886 published her first novel, A Romance of Two Worlds. In her time, she was the most widely read author of fiction but came under harsh criticism from many of the literary elite for her overly melodramatic and emotional writing. A recurring theme throughout Corelli's books was her attempt to reconcile Christianity with reincarnation, astral projection and other mystical topics. Her books were a very important part of the foundation of today's New Age religion. Amongst her works are Vendetta: A Story of One Forgotten (1886), Thelma (1887), Ardath: The Story of a Dead Self (1889), Ziska (1897), and The Master-Christian (1900). She is also the author of Temporal Power: A Study in Supremacy (1902), God's Good Man: A Simple Love Story (1904), and The Secret Power (1921).

48 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1896

About the author

Marie Corelli (born Mary Mackay) was a best-selling British novelist of the Victorian and Edwardian eras, whose controversial works of the time often label her as an early advocate of the New Age movement.

In the 1890’s Marie Corelli’s novels were eagerly devoured by millions in England, America and the colonies. Her readers ranged from Queen Victoria and Gladstone, to the poorest of shop girls. In all she wrote thirty books, the majority of which were phenomenal best sellers. Despite the fact that her novels were either ignored or belittled by the critics, at the height of her success she was the best selling and most highly paid author in England.

She was the daughter of poet, journalist, author, anthologist, novelist, and songwriter Charles Mackay. Her brother was the poet Eric Mackay.

Reviews

[Ela · Rating 4 out of 5]

’Jane ’came out’ at fifty-seven and everybody knew it.’

Absolutely adorable novella, everyone should be more Jane.

[Perry Whitford · Rating 2 out of 5]

Limp-wristed Victorian social satire.

Jane Belmont, 'a sweet-faced, placid-faced lady of the purely old-fashioned type,' inherits a fortune at 57 and leaves her cottage at Ashleigh-in-the-Dell to experience the high life in London.

She soon discovers that the great and good (that is, 'the Great of Purse and not the Great of Heart') are a shallow bunch who merely take advantage of her largesse and so rejects them all.

The author was obviously as old-fashioned as her heroine, also overly fond of highlighting the irony of her phrases by putting just about everything in inverted commas.

Lame but agreeably short.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found a beautiful 19th century hardback of this book at the local Oxfam. Beautiful typeface and illustrations. Marie Corelli is one of my favourite authors so was very pleased to find this. It was her at her most humorous and social convention defying best. The story was quite simple about a rich older "spinster" who inherited a great deal of money and was taken for a ride by the woman who was supposedly introducing her to "society". Jane was a little naive, but when she did stand up for herself quite brilliant! I'm so glad I found a copy of this. It was a super quick read but lots of fun! I imagine it pissed off lots of people when it was released!

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming and adorable. A very short and sweet feel good read - and with a good moral lesson!

[Susie Gerow · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very short, so I could stand it :)