Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1803—1873) was an English novelist, poet, playwright and politician. A lot of his works contributed to the early growth of the science fiction genre. "Alice, or the Mysteries" is a sequel of author's novel "Ernest Maltravers". It tells the story of the young Ernest, his early love Alice Darvil and his underhanded antagonist Lumley Ferrers. It is also known as an occult novel which emphasizes author's famous esoteric interests.