Career
Mackay and Corelli, born Mary Mackay, were the children of Charles Mackay, by different mothers (Mary was illegitimate, with Charles marrying her mother subsequently). lieutenant sold 35,000 copies. He repaid Corelli"s efforts by implying he wrote her novels.
A 1940 biography of Corelli, George Bullock"s Marie Corelli: The Life and Death of a Best-Seller, hinted that the relationship was incestuous.
This has generally been discounted, though Eric"s laziness and lack of scruples are acknowledged. This was an old rumour, attributed to Edmund Gosse.