Zanoni, first published in 1842, was inspired by a dream. This piece of literature describes a fascinating story of love and occult aspiration. The main character is Zanoni, a timeless Rosicrucian who has lived since the Chaldean civilisation. He falls in love with a young opera singer, Viola Pisani but to Zanoni, falling in love means losing his power of immortality. The story develops in the days of the French Revolution in 1789.