Marie Corelli was a famous, fearless, outspoken woman.

A successful nineteenth-century novelist, she outsold Dickens in her day. Then she moved to Stratford-upon-Avon.

Stratford was a sleepy, little English town. With one claim to fame -- William Shakespeare.

And when Marie appointed herself champion of conservation in Shakespeare's town, she found herself in opposition to those who thought this was their job...

This is the first in a series of small histories of Stratford-upon-Avon, England, looking at those who made the town significant and the roles they played.

The book includes illustrations, photographs and an index.