" The protagonist possesses, by conventional nineteenth century moral standards, a highly dubious character, and the tendency amongst Bulwer-Lytton’s contemporaries was to heavily associate the author with his characters. He was criticised for not choosing to employ his talents on worthier and more deserving protagonists. According to Leslie George Mitchell, the author of Bulwer Lytton: The Rise and Fall of a Victorian Man of Letters, Bulwer-Lytton’s mother was appalled by his choice of subject and viewed the work as an attack on Christianity. In fact, Bulwer-Lytton actually later withdrew the novel from publication as he believed it could possibly have a negative and detrimental effect on the morals of its readers. "

― Edward Bulwer-Lytton , Complete Works of Edward Bulwer-Lytton