The Monk: A Romance
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A virtuous monk’s descent into lust, murder, and damnation — the most scandalous Gothic novel of the 18th century, now freshly typeset for modern readers.
Description
The Monk: A Romance is M. G. Lewis’s masterpiece of Gothic horror, first published in 1796 when he was just twenty years old. It remains one of the most audacious and controversial novels ever written.
Ambrosio, a pious and revered monk in Madrid, is known throughout the city for his holiness and eloquence. But when a mysterious novice named Matilda infiltrates his monastery, she awakens forbidden desires that shatter his virtuous facade. What follows is a harrowing descent into lust, blackmail, murder, incest, and finally a pact with the devil himself.
Lewis’s novel shocked readers with its explicit depiction of sexuality, its savage criticism of religious hypocrisy, and its unflinching portrayal of evil. Yet it was also an immediate sensation, influencing generations of Gothic and horror writers from Byron and Shelley to Poe and Lovecraft.
This edition presents the complete text of The Monk, including the original Preface and Advertisement, freshly typeset for modern readers. Contents include all twelve chapters of the novel in full, from Ambrosio’s first encounter with Matilda through the terrifying conclusion in the dungeons of the Inquisition.
A landmark of Gothic literature and a foundational work of horror fiction, The Monk remains as powerful and disturbing today as it was on the day of its publication.
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Full table of contents with back-to-chapter links in every section — jump between chapters effortlessly.
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GothicReader88 –
Absolutly blew me away. I can see why this caused such a scandal back in the day. Some of the scenes are genuinly disturbing even by modern standards. Ambrosios fall from grace is terrifying because you can see it happening step by step. The Bleeding Nun subplot is pure Gothic gold.
HorrorFanatic –
Really solid Gothic horror. The first half is a bit slow with all the religious stuff but once Matilda shows up it takes off like a rocket. The ending is brutal — I did not see it coming. Formatting is clean and the chapter breaks make sence. Only weird thing is the preface poem which is included before chapter 1 but what ever.
ClassicLitNerd –
Lewis wrote this when he was NINETEEN which is just absurd. The psychological depth of Ambrosio is remarkable for such a young author. The way he rationalizes each sin to himself before commiting a worse one is masterfully done. This edition is well formated and easy to read on my phone.
BookishMom –
Not for the faint of heart! I knew it was controversial but some parts made me put the book down and walk away for a bit. That said its a important piece of literary history and the quality of the writing is undeniible. The story stays with you long after you finish.
DarkAcademiaVibes –
The atmosphere in this book is incredible. Lewis paints such a vivid picture of 18th century Madrid — the monestery, the cathedral, the dark dungeon at the end. I could almost smell the incense and candle wax. Definatly one of the best Gothic novels I have ever read. The cover art on this edition is gorgeous too.