''Thelma'' is

romantic novel A romance novel or romantic novel generally refers to a type of genre fiction novel which places its primary focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people, and usually has an "emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending." Pre ...

by the British writer

Marie Corelli Mary Mackay (1 May 185521 April 1924), also called Minnie Mackey, and known by her pseudonym Marie Corelli (, also , ), was an English novelist. From the appearance of her first novel ''A Romance of Two Worlds'' in 1886, she became the bestsel ...

, first published in 1887. It portrays the relationship between Thelma, a Norwegian woman, and the Englishman Sir Phillip Errington. A popular success it ran to more than fifty six editions.

Summary

Sir Philip Bruce-Errington (30) meets the beautiful, honest Thelma Guldmar (19) in Norway. Aided by his friend Lorimer(26), Philip and Thelma confess their love and marry with her father (Olaf)'s blessing. The antagonists here are the lustful Reverend Dyceworthy and Lovisa Elsland, an old lady who once loved Thelma's father. Thelma and her loyal maid Britta are popular in London, but Thelma's beauty evokes widespread resentment, especially from her "friend" Lady Clara Winsleigh. Lady Winsleigh and the lustful Sir Francis Lennox convince Thelma that Philip loves the actress Violet Vere. Thelma leaves Philip and returns to Norway, but her father dies. Philip goes to Norway and reconciles with Thelma. They have a daughter (who is exactly like her mother) and a son. Lorimer, who has always been a silent admirer of Thelma, marries Thelma's daughter. Britta marries Philip's Parisian friend Pierre Duprez.

Adaptations

The novel was adapted into silent films several times including the British ''

Thelma Thelma is a female given name. It was popularized by Victorian writer Marie Corelli who gave the name to the title character of her 1887 novel ''Thelma (novel), Thelma''. It may be related to a Greek word meaning "will, volition" see ''thelema''). ...

'' (1918) and American ''

'' (1922).Goble p.979

References

Bibliography

* Goble, Alan. ''The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film''. Walter de Gruyter, 1999.

External links

* 1887 British novels Novels by Marie Corelli British romance novels British novels adapted into films {{1880s-novel-stub