This Faustian novel revolves around Geoffrey Tempest, a young man living in abject poverty to the point of starvation, who suddenly finds his fortune and becomes wealthy thanks to his influential friend Lucio, a demonic presence. This novel reflects its author's philosophy of the struggle between good and evil, addressing the other side of the devil: the tormented, cursed soul, whose sorrows outweigh those of all mankind combined, versus the corruption of the human soul. It explores the decadence of British society in the late Victorian era, the prevalence of greed, and the pursuit of money, power, and lust. Marie Corelli is a best-selling fiction writer in England, whose works dealt extensively with Christianity, reincarnation, astral projection, and mysticism. She gained additional fame after her letter to the New York World about the curse of the pharaohs was published.