Publisher's Synopsis
""The Story of Prince Barkiarokh"" is a novella written by William Beckford. It tells the tale of a young prince named Barkiarokh who is raised in isolation by his father, the king, in order to protect him from the evil influence of the court. Barkiarokh is a kind and virtuous young man, but he is also naive and sheltered. When he comes of age, his father sends him to the court to learn about the world and prepare to take his place as king. However, Barkiarokh is quickly corrupted by the decadent and immoral courtiers, who introduce him to a life of excess and debauchery. He falls in love with a beautiful but cruel woman named Zulinda, who leads him further down the path of sin. Eventually, Barkiarokh realizes the error of his ways and tries to return to his former virtuous life, but it may be too late. The novella is a cautionary tale about the dangers of excess and the importance of staying true to one's values.My crimes are even greater that those of the Calif Vathek. No rash and impious counsels hastened my ruin, as they have hastened his. If I am here, in this abode of horror, it is because I spurned the salutary advice, oft repeated, of the most real and loving friend.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
