Wormwood (1890) is a novel by Marie Corelli. Published at the beginning of Corelli’s career as one of the most successful writers of her generation- Wormwood combines realism- social commentary- and family drama to tell a story of murder- revenge- and addiction set in the bustling city of Paris. Due for reassessment by a modern audience- Marie Corelli’s work—which has inspired several adaptations for film and theater—is a must read for fans of nineteenth century fiction. “Men such as ‘Gaston Beauvais’ are to be met with every day in Paris—and not only in Paris- but in every part of the Continent where the Curse- which forms the subject of this story- has any sort of sway. The morbidness of the modern French mind is well known […]; the open atheism- heartlessness- flippancy- and flagrant immorality of the whole modern French school of thought is unquestioned.” Intended as a rallying cry to English readers- Wormwood states quite clearly Corelli’s beliefs on progressivism and the dangers of alcohol. Echoing the popular realist novels of French contemporary Emile Zola- Corelli provides a gritty portrait of ambition and suffering in Paris. When young Gaston Beauvais is betrayed by his fiancée and best friend- he turns from a life of promise to the promise of absinthe- beginning a tragic spiral into violence and despair. Addressing philosophical- psychological- and religious themes- Wormwood is a moving work of fiction which asks important questions about an emerging modern world. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript- this edition of Marie Corelli’s Wormwood is a classic work of English literature reimagined for modern readers.