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The Monk

By Matthew Lewis
Series: Oxford World's Classics
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Monk by Matthew Lewis is a chilling Gothic tale of temptation and depravity set in a Capuchin monastery in Madrid. The respected monk Ambrosio succumbs to dark desires, abandoning his vows and descending into a harrowing spiral of immorality, violence, and blasphemy. The novel explores themes of black magic, torture, rape, and murder, portraying Ambrosio's catastrophic fall and the peril of his soul. Inspired by folklore and the turbulent anxieties of the late 18th century, this groundbreaking English horror novel remains a profound and shocking classic.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3700

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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?

This classic work appeals to readers interested in Gothic fiction, horror, and historical novels that delve into moral and psychological complexity. Ideal for those who appreciate literary explorations of dark themes and British literature of the Romantic period.

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The Monk (1796) is a masterpiece of Gothic fiction and the first horror novel in English literature. It tells of the pious monk Ambrosio's descent into depravity, his passion leading to rape, blasphemy, black magic, incest, and murder. Its sensational story also reflects the terrors of the French Revolution.

A Gothic story of the pious monk Ambrosio's descent into depravity, his passion leading to rape, blasphemy, black magic, incest, and murder.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

He was deaf to the murmurs of conscience, and resolved to satisfy his desires at any price.

The Monk (1796) is a sensational story of temptation and depravity, a masterpiece of Gothic fiction and the first horror novel in English literature. The respected monk Ambrosio, the Abbot of a Capuchin monastery in Madrid, is overwhelmed with desire for a young girl; once having abandoned his monastic vows, he begins a terrible descent into immorality and violence. His appalling fall from grace embraces blasphemy, black magic, torture, rape, and murder, and places his very soul in jeopardy.

Lewis's extraordinary tale drew on folklore, legendary ghost stories, and contemporary dread inspired by the terrors of the French Revolution. Its excesses shocked the reading public, and it was condemned as obscene. The novel continues to beguile and shock readers today with its gruesome catalogue of iniquities, while at the same time giving a profound insight into the deep anxieties experienced by British citizens during one of the most turbulent periods in the nation's history.

About the series: For over 100 years, Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780198704454

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 14 January 2016

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Oxford University Press

Contributors:

  • Edited by Nick Groom

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 19.0mm

Width: 138.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 290g

Pages: 416

Collections

Classic Fiction Classic General Fiction Classic Horror & Ghost Stories Fiction General Fiction History & Archaeology History & Military Horror & Supernatural Literary Fiction Matthew Lewis Series: Oxford World's Classics

About the Author

Nick Groom publishes widely for both academic and popular readerships and his recent books include The Forger's Shadow (2002), The Union Jack (2006), The Gothic: A Very Short Introduction (2012), and an edition of Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto for Oxford World's Classics (2014). His book The Seasons: An Elegy for the Passing Year (2013) was shortlisted for the Katharine Briggs Folklore Award and nominated for BBC Countryfile Book of the Year.

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  • The Monk
    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...
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    The Monk by Matthew Lewis has been described as a 'Graphic, almost pornographic tale of darkness and evil' by the Guardian and as 'One of the most shocking Gothic novels' by the Independent. Noble and devout, Ambrosio is the abbot of a Spanish monastery and spends his days in prayer and preaching. However, his monastery is harbouring a malevolent force...
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