Pseudonym of Mary Mackay, born in Perth, Scotland, as the "natural" daughter of Dr Charles Mackay, a songwriter, and a servant whom Mackay married in 1864. Trained for a musical career, in her twenties she adopted the name Marie Corelli, possibly from the 17th century Venetian composer Arcangelo Corelli. But then she turned to writing, and her first novel, A Romance of Two Worlds (1886), was followed by many more romantic melodramas.

Her other novels include Barabbas (1893), The Sorrow of Satan (1895), and The Mighty Atom (1896). She was said to be Queen Victoria's favourite novelist.

She hypnotized her public with her exuberant immagination and her far-fetched theories on anything from morality to radiactive vibrations. But her popularity turned to ridicule long before her death. From 1876 until her death Corelli lived with Bertha Vyer who acted as her companion, confidante, housekeeper, and nurse, in Stratford-upon-Avon. Corelli wore a ring Vyer had given her when they were young.

The two women appeared arm in arm in public and their intertwined initials were carved into the mantlepiece in their home with the inscription amor vincit.