Zanoni

More about the book

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.