Innocent (1914) is a novel by Marie Corelli. Published at the height
of Corelli's career as one of the most successful writers of her
generation, the novel combines fantasy and romance to tell a story of
self-discovery, ambition, and the ideals of the early feminist movement.
Due for reassessment by a modern audience, Innocent is a must read for
fans of Victorian literature. Abandoned as a baby, Innocent is raised by
Hugo Jocelyn on the ancestral farm of Sieur Amadis, a legendary French
knight. Growing up in this idyllic setting, Innocent develops a love for
medieval literature while constructing elaborate fantasies about her
mysterious origins. When Jocelyn dies, he reveals the identity of her
parents: Lady Blythe, a noblewoman; and Pierce Armitage, an artist.
Forced to face reality for the first time in her life, Innocent makes
her way to London, where she begins a promising career as a professional
writer. Despite her early success, Innocent encounters a friend of her
parents who, unbeknownst to her, reveals her whereabouts and sets the
stage for their reconciliation. While Armitage, now in Italy, prepares
to rekindle their relationship, Innocent falls for a vain, manipulative
young man who promises her marriage while harboring his own secret
motives. Innocent is a tale of a young woman true to her name, a
talented and promising young artist who must learn fast in order to
avoid disaster. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally
typeset manuscript, this edition of Marie Corelli's Innocent is a
classic work of English literature reimagined for modern readers.
