Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Blast from the Past*: The Monk - Matthew G. Lewis

http://www.powells.com/biblio/61-9781592243280-1 : I read this book during a college seminar on The Gothic Novel, but was reminded of it when flipping through this 1,001 Books to Read Before You Die book. I LOVED this book - it is sinister and fascinating and I remember not being able to put it down. It's the story of Ambrosio, a hypocritical and evil Catholic monk who sinks further and further into depravity as the novel unfolds. For a book published in 1796, I thought it was absolutely tremendous (could be because I was taking 18th Century British novels at the same time and all of those were SO BORING). This is definitely an oldie but goodie.

(* - listed in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die)

Fascinating Factoid: Charlotte Bronte (Jane Eyre), Anne Bronte (Agnes Grey), and Emily Bronte (Wuthering Heights) all published their novels in the same year (1847). I find this to be an incredible coincidence - particularly since Anne died in 1849 and Emily in 1848. Either they saved up the writings and went full force for publication, or once they put their novels out for the public, they had no other reason to keep on living.

No comments: