Publisher's Synopsis
The Monk, by Matthew G. Lewis, a terrible book and one of the summits of the Gothic novel, came to light in March 1796, and immediately aroused the interest and amazement of critics and the public. Today, two hundred years later, the hypnotic power of his prose and the moral poison that exudes his pages continues to arouse the amazement of generations of readers who like classic terror. Since its appearance, the work has been crossed out and condemned as impious, libertine, atheist and corrupted. H. P. Lovecraft, master of ceremonies of macabre literature, considers it "a true nightmare masterpiece whose general Gothic elements are spiced with a wealth of macabre features."The novel introduces us to a Spanish monk, named Ambrosio, who is a deeply virtuous state and is tempted by the devil in the guise of the maiden Matilde. Finally, Ambrosio is condemned to die at the hands of the Inquisition.
