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The Monk

(Oxford World's Classics Hardcovers)

By Matthew Lewis

(56)

| Hardcover | 9780195151367

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Book Description

One of the most extravagantly dark works of Gothic fiction ever written in English, admired by the likes of Lord Byron and the Marquis de Sade, The Monk drew a firestorm of criticism when it was published in 1796. Contemporaries condemned it as "lewd," "libidinous and impious." "Lust, murder,
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One of the most extravagantly dark works of Gothic fiction ever written in English, admired by the likes of Lord Byron and the Marquis de Sade, The Monk drew a firestorm of criticism when it was published in 1796. Contemporaries condemned it as "lewd," "libidinous and impious." "Lust, murder,
incest, and every atrocity that can disgrace human nature," one critic cried, "brought together, without the apology of probability, or even possibility." Of course, it was an immediate best seller.
Written by Matthew Lewis at the tender age of nineteen, The Monk tells of the violent downfall of the monk Ambrosio. Idolized by all Madrid for his spotless character, the proud Ambrosio is privately tormented with lust for Matilda and, once sated, with overpowering desire for the pure and
innocent Antonia, whom he rapes and murders in the crypt of Saint Clare. Sentenced to death by the Inquisition, he sells his soul to the devil, with unusually bad results. But the plot is only part of the book's appeal. The Monk is a bubbling cauldron of Horror characters and motifs. Ghosts,
murderous banditti, the Wandering Jew, a gypsy fortune teller, the Bleeding Nun, the Grand Inquisitor, and Satan himself all have roles in the drama. Characters are buried alive, tortured, tempted by demons, and torn apart by riotous mobs, in settings that include castles, monasteries, and dungeons.
Stephen King, in his introduction to this edition, calls The Monk "a black engine of sex and the supernatural that changed the genre--and the novel itself--forever." Everyone who loves the novels of King will find this book irresistible.

5 Reviews

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  • 1 person find this helpful

    a bit lagging at places, but nevertherless, a satisfying Gothic novel.

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    Linda said on Mar 29, 2011 about the Others edition | Add your feedback

  • The Monk that couldn’t make up its mind about what it wanted to be about

    I liked this book in the beginning, as it seemed to be developing a critical focus on the psychological effects that the sexually supressed lifestyle of the monastery has had on the title character of the book, while yet it was unclear in which direction the story would take this angle, and I was ve ... (continue)

    I liked this book in the beginning, as it seemed to be developing a critical focus on the psychological effects that the sexually supressed lifestyle of the monastery has had on the title character of the book, while yet it was unclear in which direction the story would take this angle, and I was very interested to go on.

    But then the ceaseless piling up of plot lines that the book is actually about began. It was a restless narration that didn‘t allow itself to dwell long on any single plot line that had been introduced, but instead brushes them off one after the other and put them in the background of something else that would soon enough be treated in the same way. It felt unsatisfying to read, even if parts of the story were quite good and gripping. Somewhere in the midst of the book there is a ghost story, and at the point when it‘s introduced the book seems finally to be settling on a direction. Until the plot line of the ghost has been tied up and thrown away for the story to go on rolling down a hill, collecting more plot lines as it goes.

    Now, to be fair, there are a couple of storylines that remain as the constants throughout the book, but it gradually became impossible for me to care about them with all the other plot elements that are crammed into the narration. In the very last pages of the book a couple of new plot lines are introduced, and one of them is actually meant to somehow tie together some of the things that have gone on in the story. It may possibly be appealing to some readers, but for me it was so far away from the aspect of the story that got me invested in it in the first place that it merely served to finalize the disappointment of the book. Having said that it still feels like everything in the book could have worked on its own if the work around it had been more focused.

    In conclusion I just want to add my standard disclaimer that I don‘t like giving low grades to books, and I certainly don‘t care for how the ratings here are piled together, as if accumulatively they have some greater meaning. I just rate books basing on how well they work for me and I am not trying to reflect any universal appraisal of them.

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    Arnifannar said on Mar 31, 2012 about the Others edition | Add your feedback

  • Despite being a little dispersive here and there and even too dismissive in some other passages - the star-crossed romance between Raymond and Agnes would require a book on its own -, The Monk is a great work of fiction, as darig, witty and engaging as only a few novels can be, and neither th ... (continue)

    Despite being a little dispersive here and there and even too dismissive in some other passages - the star-crossed romance between Raymond and Agnes would require a book on its own -, The Monk is a great work of fiction, as darig, witty and engaging as only a few novels can be, and neither the passing time nor the changes through which the Gothic narrative has gone since its dawning can obfuscate its beauty and power. Thumbs up.

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    Ais Quin said on Sep 7, 2011 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

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