Zanoni

Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, the novel features an immortal Rosicrucian named Zanoni, who renounces human emotions to achieve eternal life. His decision to pursue a mortal love, Viola, against his master’s warnings complicates matters, especially as Glyndon, a fellow seeker of spiritual enlightenment, also loves her. The narrative delves into 19th-century Rosicrucian mysteries, introducing the concept of the Guardian of the Threshold, which influenced later occult literature. Bulwer-Lytton's work profoundly shaped the genre's evolution.