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The Monk
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Check link for latest rating. ( 31,930 ratings, 3,278 reviews)
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Format: Paperback / softback
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The Monk
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
Shows the diabolical decline of Ambrosio, a worthy superior of the Capuchins of Madrid who is tempted by Matilda, a young girl who has entered his monastery disguised as a boy. Descending into a hell of his own creation, Ambrosio is driven to magic and murder in an attempt to conceal his crimes from the Inquisition.
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Description
The Monk tells the story of Ambrosio, the esteemed superior of the Capuchins of Madrid, who succumbs to the temptations of Matilda, a fiendishly inspired seductress. Disguised as a boy, Matilda enters the monastery as a novice, causing Ambrosio to stray from his righteous path.
As his downfall progresses, Ambrosio falls in love with one of his penitents, ultimately murdering her to avoid being discovered. Nonetheless, his crimes are exposed, and he is subjected to torture by the Inquisition before being sentenced to death.
The novel, though extravagant in its blend of the supernatural, the horrific, and the indecent, contains scenes of significant impact and emotion. The Monk is a quintessential example of 18th-century Gothic literature, crafted partly in response to the works of Walpole and Radcliffe, and it enjoyed considerable popularity at the time.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
The Monk is praised for its rich and powerful imagination, distinguished by the variety and impressiveness of its incidents. The author displays a fervid creativity that captivates readers throughout the work.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780140436037
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 29 October 1998
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Penguin Classics
Contributors:
- Notes by Christopher MacLachlan
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 24.0mm
Width: 129.0mm
Height: 197.0mm
Weight: 302g
Pages: 416
About the Author
Matthew Gregory Lewis (1775-1818) was educated at Oxford after which he held a position in the British Embassy at The Hague. It was there in 1794, that he wrote the racy novel THE MONK, under the influence of the early German romantics. Its controversial publication in 1796, due to Lewis' new status as MP, earned him fame and the book a great deal of popularity. Christopher MacLachlan is a Lecturer at the University of St Andrews. He has published books and articles on Pope, Hume and Burns.
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