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marvels of which even Bacon's fancy never conceived；
simultaneously with superstitions grosser than any which Bacon's
age believed。 〃The one is； in fact； the natural reaction from
the other。 The more science seeks to exclude the miraculous； and
reduce all nature； animate and inanimate； to an invariable law of
sequences； the more does the natural instinct of man rebel； and
seek an outlet for those obstinate questionings； those 'blank
misgivings of a creature moving about in worlds not realised；'
taking refuge in delusions as degrading as any of the so…called
Dark Ages。〃 It was the revolt from the chilling materialism of
the age which inspired the mystic creations of 〃Zanoni〃 and 〃A
Strange Story。〃 Of these works； which support and supplement
each other； one is the contemplation of our actual life through a
spiritual medium； the other is designed to show that； without
some gleams of the supernatural； man is not man； nor nature
nature。
In 〃Zanoni〃 the author introduces us to two human beings who have
achieved immortality： one； Mejnour； void of all passion or
feeling； calm； benignant； bloodless； an intellect rather than a
man； the other； Zanoni； the pupil of Mejnour； the representative
of an ideal life in its utmost perfection； possessing eternal
youth； absolute power； and absolute knowledge； and withal the
fullest capacity to enjoy and to love； and； as a necessity of
that love； to sorrow and despair。 By his love for Viola Zanoni
is compelled to descend from his exalted state； to lose his
eternal calm； and to share in the cares and anxieties of
humanity； and this degradation is completed by the birth of a
child。 Finally； he gives up the life which hangs on that of
another； in order to save that other； the loving and beloved
wife； who has delivered him from his solitude and isolation。
Wife and child are mortal； and to outlive them and his love for
them is impossible。 But Mejnour； who is the impersonation of
thought；pure intellect without affection；lives on。
Bulwer has himself justly characterised this work； in the
Introduction； as a romance and not a romance； as a truth for
those who can comprehend it； and an extravagance for those who
cannot。 The most careless or matter…of…fact reader must see that
the work； like the enigmatical 〃Faust；〃 deals in types and
symbols； that the writer intends to suggest to the mind something
more subtle and impalpable than that which is embodied to the
senses。 What that something is； hardly two persons will agree。
The most obvious interpretation of the types is； that in Zanoni
the author depicts to us humanity； perfected； sublimed； which
lives not for self； but for others； in Mejnour； as we have before
said； cold； passionless； self…sufficing intellect； in Glyndon；
the young Englishman； the mingled strength and weakness of human
nature； in the heartless； selfish artist； Nicot； icy； soulless
atheism； believing nothing； hoping nothing； trusting and loving
nothing； and in the beautiful； artless Viola； an exquisite
creation； pure womanhood； loving； trusting and truthful。 As a
work of art the romance is one of great power。 It is original in
its conception； and pervaded by one central idea； but it would
have been improved； we think； by a more sparing use of the
supernatural。 The inevitable effect of so much hackneyed
diablerieof such an accumulation of wonder upon wonderis to
deaden the impression they would naturally make upon us。 In
Hawthorne's tales we see with what ease a great imaginative
artist can produce a deeper thrill by a far slighter use of the
weird and the mysterious。
The chief interest of the story for the ordinary reader centres；
not in its ghostly characters and improbable machinery； the
scenes in Mejnour's chamber in the ruined castle among the
Apennines； the colossal and appalling apparitions on Vesuvius；
the hideous phantom with its burning eye that haunted Glyndon；
but in the loves of Viola and the mysterious Zanoni； the blissful
and the fearful scenes through which they pass； and their final
destiny； when the hero of the story sacrifices his own 〃charmed
life〃 to save hers； and the Immortal finds the only true
immortality in death。 Among the striking passages in the work
are the pathetic sketch of the old violinist and composer；
Pisani； with his sympathetic 〃barbiton〃 which moaned； groaned；
growled； and laughed responsive to the feelings of its master；
the description of Viola's and her father's triumph； when 〃The
Siren；〃 his masterpiece； is performed at the San Carlo in Naples；
Glyndon's adventure at the Carnival in Naples； the death of his
sister； the vivid pictures of the Reign of Terror in Paris；
closing with the downfall of Robespierre and his satellites； and
perhaps； above all； the thrilling scene where Zanoni leaves Viola
asleep in prison when his guards call him to execution； and she；
unconscious of the terrible sacrifice； but awaking and missing
him； has a vision of the procession to the guillotine； with
Zanoni there； radiant in youth and beauty； followed by the sudden
vanishing of the headsman；the horror；and the 〃Welcome〃 of her
loved one to Heaven in a myriad of melodies from the choral hosts
above。
〃Zanoni〃 was originally published by Saunders and Otley； London；
in three volumes 12mo。； in 1842。 A translation into French； made
by M。 Sheldon under the direction of P。 Lorain； was published in
Paris in the 〃Bibliotheque des Meilleurs Romans Etrangers。〃
W。M。
PREFACE TO THE EDITION OF 1853。
As a work of imagination； 〃Zanoni〃 ranks； perhaps； amongst the
highest of my prose fictions。 In the Poem of 〃King Arthur；〃
published many years afterwards； I have taken up an analogous
design； in the contemplation of our positive life through a
spiritual medium； and I have enforced； through a far wider
development； and； I believe； with more complete and enduring
success； that harmony between the external events which are all
that the superficial behold on the surface of human affairs； and
the subtle and intellectual agencies which in reality influence
the conduct of individuals； and shape out the destinies of the
world。 As man has two lives；that of action and that of
thought；so I conceive that work to be the truest representation
of humanity which faithfully delineates both； and opens some
elevating glimpse into the sublimest mysteries of our being； by
establishing the inevitable union that exists between the plain
things of the day； in which our earthly bodies perform their
allotted part； and the latent； often uncultivated； often
invisible； affinities of the soul with all the powers that
eternally breathe and move throughout the Universe of Spirit。
I refer those who do me the honour to read 〃Zanoni〃 with more
attention than is given to ordinary romance； to the Poem of 〃King
Arthur；〃 for suggestive conjecture into most of the regions of
speculative research； affecting the higher and more important
condition