Ziska: The Problem of a Wicked Soul (Valancourt Classics) [Paperback]

Marie Corelli (Author), Curt Herr (Introduction)

Book Description

Series: Valancourt Classics | Publication Date: May 11, 2009

Armand Gervase has it all. He is a famous artist, his paintings are hung in national galleries, and he is celebrated worldwide. His best-known painting, depicting an alluring Egyptian woman about to murder her lover, is known for its minute, historic detail, yet Armand has no experience with Egypt's ancient past . . . or does he?

Rejecting the idea of heaven and hell, soul and spirit, Armand embraces a life of decadence which allows him the freedom to act as he pleases - until he meets the seductive and hypnotic Princess Ziska. Haunted by strange and distant memories of her, Armand attempts to unravel her mystery, only to discover his memories of her are centuries old - and she looks terrifying similar to the female in his celebrated painting. How can this be? Has he fallen in love with a ghost, or is there something more sinister lurking behind Ziska's hypnotic eyes?

A supernatural tale of reincarnation, seduction, and revenge, Ziska was a bestseller upon its publication in 1897. In the new introduction to this edition, Curt Herr examines the novel in relation to the other two great Gothic bestsellers of 1897, Bram Stoker's Dracula and Richard Marsh's The Beetle, and calls for a reconsideration of Corelli as a major figure in Victorian popular culture.

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Valancourt Books (May 11, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1934555681
• ISBN-13: 978-1934555682
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,646,800 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A bouquet of sensations!, June 24, 2009

By 

Anthony "Archhistbuff" (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ziska: The Problem of a Wicked Soul (Valancourt Classics) (Paperback)

For my 25th birthday, a friend bought me a "shot" of 25-year-old Macallan single malt scotch. At that time, it cost $27.00, so needless to say, it was a sipper and not a shooter. Upon putting the small snifter to my nose, the bouquet was amazingly complex and brought about euphoric olfactory sensations not often experienced. Upon the first sip, my mouth was filled with an amazing plethora of sensations - one from each different side of my mouth. Similarly, I experienced such a bouquet of sensations while reading Ziska, by Marie Corelli.
While only 155 pages long, Ziska is filled with hints, suggestions, ideas, and symbolism. A reader encounters feminism and female sexuality, arguments against the upper class, questions about the definition of love, questions about life and death and the presence or lack of presence of an afterlife, and in the end, is filled with the desire to make amends for any wrongs she/he has accidentally or intentionally perpetrated upon other people. Even with all of this, or perhaps because of all this, the story remains cohesive, maintaining the attention of the reader throughout. This is certainly aided by the fact that the story is set in a place that has an intrigue and mystery of its own - Egypt. With the ancient pyramids, hidden tombs, hidden treasure, and secret entrances, this story easily fits with many of the trends in current literature. As Dr. Curt Herr, writer of the introduction tells the reader, Ziska was a best-seller in 1897, right along side Bram Stoker's Dracula, and Richard Marsh's The Beetle. Upon reading Ziska, it is easy to see why.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ziska: A non-stop thrill ride!!!, June 4, 2009

By 

Richie Rich "Rich S." (Bucks County) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ziska: The Problem of a Wicked Soul (Valancourt Classics) (Paperback)

I loved this book! Once you start a Corelli novel, it is impossible to walk away from it. Ziska follows the life of a decadent artist as he experiences past life regressions when he meets Ziska in Cairo. Flickers of memories start to interrupt his thoughts, and as the book progresses he becomes more and more haunted by her face. I won't give away any plot spoilers here- but the final chapter is a wonderful read! I wasn't expecting Corelli's ending- and found my self thinking about it long after I put the book down. For a 100 year old book, Ziska is really modern. It is a simple tale filled with lush details, some social commentary (which is a riot to today's reader), and is a blast to read- from beginning to end, I was hooked.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a wonderful rainy night read!, June 4, 2009

By 

Ibsen Freak "GothGuy" (PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ziska: The Problem of a Wicked Soul (Valancourt Classics) (Paperback)

Thank God! Marie Corelli is back! She's been overlooked for too long and Ziska is a wonderfully inventive book- If you liked 'The Sorrows of Satan' and 'Wormwood', 'Ziska' is a must own. It is a cross between Noel Coward, characters from Dark Shadows, and a 1940's Mummy flick (though written in 1897). Ziska has returned from the grave to seek revenge on a lover from a past life, but Corelli's ending is far from predictable! Her descriptions are remarkable as well. It is easy to see why Corelli was a Victorian sensation! I'll consume every Corelli novel I can find- Thanks to Valencourt Press for re-issuing this great Victorian mystery-!