Product Description

`The Monk was so highly popular that it seemed to create an epoch in our literature', wrote Sir Walter Scott. Set in the sinister monastery of the Capuchins in Madrid, The Monk is a violent tale of ambition, murder, and incest. The great struggle between maintaining monastic vows and fulfilling personal ambitions leads its main character, the monk Ambrosio, to temptation and the breaking of his vows, then to sexual obsession and rape, and finally to murder in order to conceal his guilt. Inspired by German horror romanticism and the work of Ann Radcliffe, Lewis produced his masterpiece at the age of nineteen. It contains many typical Gothic elements - seduction in a monastery, lustful monks, evil Abbesses, bandits and beautiful heroines. But, as the Introduction to this new edition shows, Lewis also played with convention, ranging from gruesome realism to social comedy, and even parodied the genre in which he was writing.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16048 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-17
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 496 pages

Review
`The Monk was so highly popular that it seemed to create an epoch in our literature.' Sir Walter Scott.

Customer Reviews

A Classic Gem of Horror
I have read horror books, but there are too few that I consider outstanding. What is even worse is that modern horror tends to depict too much blood and gore with poor story telling.

That is why I started to search for classical horror. To my surprise this book really entertained me. What is more surprising is that this was first published in 1796.
A book that depicts murder, sex and pacts with the devil. With a sinister monastery as background and its dark atmosphere.

I'm very satisfied to have found and bought this book. I totally recommend it and I consider it a Classic Gem of Horror.

An absolutely genius with beautiful twists and turns
I have just finished reading this book and it truly arrested my attention. This is not your typical love story. This is gothic at its greatest. One thing I loved about the book is that there are about 4 (if not more) different romantic plots within the book which at the end of the book is beautifully interwoven.There is Raymond and Agnes, Lorenzo and Antonia (Later with Virginia), The Monk and Matilda, then The Monk and Antonia. If you understand how to read and understand classics then this is definately a must read. The first chapter might be a little confusing and the poems were a little unnecessary but stick with it and I promise that you will not be disappointed. The monk proved how pride can just as well be a sin. This novel touches all areas like pride, lust, sexual obsession, murder, rape, incest, magic, sorcery, demons, adventures with dangers (i.e armed robbers) etc,. I love this novel and if you enjoy classics, then this should not be missing from your collection

One of my favourites...
I bought this book when I had nothing else to read as it was controversial at the time it was first published and it involves murder, incest, religion, deception and morals - a compelling mix.

Although it took me the first chaper to get used to the way it was written - the word order is slightly different - it is a cracker of a page turner and I couldn't put it down. Although I knew that some things were going to happen before they actually happened, it added to the suspense rather than destroying it and it made the story ultimately more tragic. In short, I wish that this author was still alive as there needs to be more books like this.