Alice, or the Mysteries — Complete

A sequel to his popular novel Ernest Maltravers, this romance follows its hero’s continued search for love, meaning, and moral purpose amid mystery, misfortune, and the workings of fate. Bulwer-Lytton, one of the most successful novelists of his day, blends sentiment, philosophy, and dramatic incident in his characteristic grand style. Exploring themes of idealism and the education of the heart, the novel reflects the romantic and moral preoccupations of its era. A representative work from a hugely popular Victorian storyteller, Alice, or the Mysteries offers the sweeping emotion and earnest reflection that made Bulwer-Lytton a favorite of nineteenth-century readers.