The Monk
Book description
Matthew Lewis's Gothic masterpiece, depicting a holy man slowly becoming entangled in a web of sin, The Monk is edited with an introduction by Christopher MacLachlan in Penguin Classics.
Savaged by critics for its blasphemy and obscenity, particularly since the author was a Member of Parliament, The Monk soon attracted…
Why read it?
1 author picked The Monk as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
The Monk mixes rich Gothic fiction with wonderfully light comedic moments to create a compelling story that feels more modern than its 1796 publishing date.
The two main concurrent stories allow the plot to develop from the romance of the early chapters into a dark glimmering tale of religion, romance, corruption, and downfall.
The book is gloriously written, especially if you can find a copy prior to the slightly sanitized fourth edition, which was written in response to controversy about the "immorality and wild extravagance" of the original. What better praise could a book obtain?
From Steve's list on classic Gothic that are still amazing today.
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