The Monk (Oxford World's Classics) - Softcover

Lewis, Matthew

Softcover

ISBN 10: 019953568X ISBN 13: 9780199535682

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2008

Synopsis

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. The only edition of this key gothic novel available, The Monk now offers a new introduction and notes that make it especially accessible to the modern reader.

About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum 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, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

About this title

About the Author:

Emma McEvoy is a Lecturer at Goldsmith's College.

Review:

`This is the highly popular and equally highly vilified Gothic novel, written in 1794. Gruesome, voluptuous, and occasionally tongue-in-cheek, The Monk is a masterpiece of its genre.'
Sunday Telegraph

`what distinguishes The Monk from a whole raft of lesser imitations is the quality of the storytelling ... There's always a danger of bathos in narratives where horror is piled on horror ... Lewis avoids that pitfall by judicious use of humour. He also writes with great visual immediacy. Lewis
has a remarkable understanding of human psychology. The Monk is a stunning read. It was published 200 years ago. I hope this article is not the only celebration of that bicentenary.'
Simon Brett, The Sunday Times

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 019953568X
• ISBN 13: 9780199535682
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 496
• Editor: McEvoy Emma