Angel

"Highly diverting, this extraordinary novel charts the rise and fall of a popular novelist, and brilliantly evokes the life of Marie Corelli, the famous writer of romances.

It is the turn of the century and Angelica Deverell is fifteen years old. Her mother, a widow, keeps a grocery shop in a dreary provincial backstreet, working hard so that Angel can 'better herself'. The headstrong Angel, however, rejects her mother's sacrifice and retreats into a world of romantic dreams. Alone in her room, she plots her escape route, spinning fables at once extravagant and fanciful. To those around her this is simply folie de grandeur, but Angel knows better. She knows she is different, that she is destined to become a fated authoress, owner of great riches and of the mysterious Paradise House."