Zanoni is an 1842 novel by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, a story of love and occult aspiration. By way of introduction, the author confesses: "... It so chanced that some years ago, in my younger days, whether of authorship or life, I felt the desire to make myself acquainted with the true origins and tenets of the singular sect known by the name of Rosicrucians." A manuscript came into his hands written in the most unintelligible cipher, a manuscript which through the author's own interpretation became Zanoni. It tells the story of its protagonist Zanoni, who possesses occult powers and knows the secret of eternal life. Characters The principal characters are: Zanoni – an initiate into Chaldean wisdom Mejnour – an older companion and fellow initiate Clarence Glyndon – an English artist who aspires to the secret knowledge Viola Pisani – a beautiful and purehearted but unsophisticated Neapolitan Mervale – a commonsensical and conventional-minded friend of Glyndon Nicot – a debased and selfish revolutionary Plot Zanoni has lived since the Chaldean civilisation and is a timeless Rosicrucian brother and cannot fall in love without losing his power of immortality. But he falls in love with Viola Pisani, a promising young opera singer from Naples, who is the daughter of Pisani, a misunderstood Italian violinist. An English gentleman named Glyndon loves Viola as well, but is indecisive about proposing marriage and then renounces his love to pursue occult study. The story develops in 1789, during the French Revolution. His master Mejnor warns him against a love affair but Zanoni does not heed. He finally marries Viola and they have a child. As Zanoni experiences an increase in humanity, he begins to lose his gift of immortality. He finally dies in the guillotine during the French Revolution. Theme Bulwer-Lytton humanised Gothic art and evoked its poetry to suit the Victorian era. In Zanoni, Bulwer-Lytton alludes to deep Rosicrucian mysteries regarding the four elements, secrets which only initiated Rosicrucians have the power to reveal which is the ultimate goal being the discovery of the Elixir of life and the attainment of immortality and eternal youth. This is all depicted in Zanoni himself who at the time of Babylon abandoned all human passions to become immortal but during the French Revolution, to become human again, he falls in love and dies at the guillotine. The name Zanoni is derived from the Chaldean root zan, meaning "sun",