The Monk: A Romance

Anti-Catholic Gothic Novel

I read The Monk as part of the required reading for my Gothic Fictions class in college. The books in my recommended reading list are all related to the gothic theme of the class. The Broadview edition is excellent for literary study. In the introduction, the editors explain many of the influences on Lewis when he wrote The Monk, which include the French Revolution, Goethe's Faustus, Burke's Sublime and Beautiful, and--just in case you didn't get enough from other novels--there's even some Oedipus influence, as well. The criticisms and letters in the back help one to understand the outrage and censorship of the book in late 18th century Europe. It was not well received by many in power. As far as the story itself, the overall tone of the book definitely has an anti-Catholic theme. Lewis was raised a Protestant, so he supported the French Revolution, but he was also concerned with its excesses. The revolution and excesses of both Ambrosio and Agnes parallel his sentiment about the French Revolution. The weaving of the main plot and subplot made the reading at times a bit dense, although there were several good parts. Lewis did a very nice job of incorporating Burke's sublime and beautiful techniques, such as using obscurity when describing the sublime, and there were parts about the ghost of the bleeding nun that sent chills up my spine as I read it. Overall, I liked the book, but I'm not easily offended by this sort of stuff. However, if a monk breaking his vows and committing all sorts of crimes, including rape and murder, might offend you, this probably isn't the book for you.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Definitely Need To Read!!

This is one of my favorite books. It's a Gothic Romance written by Lewis, who at the time was an 18 yr old member of Parliament. He wrote the book in about 10 weeks.

If you like books by Ann Radcliffe and/or Christopher Marlowe's Dr Faustus. You NEED to read this!!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Best Book Ever!

This is, by far, the best book I've ever read. I read it about 7 years ago in college and loved it. I just re-read it and absolutely loved it again! Everyone that I've recommended it to has loved it as well. It is a book to read and keep forever.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Monk Bakes the Cake

This novel predates everything I have read. I am a sucker for ancient text, or anything written in the 17th century. Lewis' language topples over shakespeare and leaves anne rice in the gutter. I recommend this book for anyone interested in dark subjects, whitchcraft, evil religion, devil incarnate, and all the fervid details that make you quiver.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Campy, Fun, and Generally Melodramatic

After I got used to the old-style grammar (shot-gun commas, non-standard spelling, and Drive-By Capitalization), I really enjoyed this book. It's campy and overly melodramatic, but that just adds to its charm. If you've got a few hours to kill and don't mind a few subplots that have nodding acquaintances with each other, I recommend this. It tickles me that the author was only 19 when he wrote this and people are still reading it a couple of centuries later.

Neal to Magatron

Sweet you are so lucky. I want to go see it. It comes out on the 23rd my birthday!!!!!!!!!

Okay read.

I appreciate this book's historical value, but I really did not enjoy reading it. It was interesting in some parts, but was on the whole overly dramatic and exaggerated. I'm sure that an English professor would appreciate this book more than I, as a casual reader.

Highly Recommended

A deliciously salacious and fast paced bit of gothic literature. Not the genre defining stuff of Walpole and Radcliffe, but a bit of late eighteenth century trashy reading. Well worth the time.

A Great Book

I really loved this book. I was upset that it had to end. Maybe I will read it again someday. You should get it and read it.

Simply Amazing

This is by far the best book I have ever read. The novel has a very gothic theme and is super creepy at times. I highly recommend this book if you can enjoy a haunting tale.

Awesome

It's not a book for the faint of heart. It hits all the elements of a good hardcore Goth: dungeons, torture chambers, demons, incest, murder, The Wondering Jew, evil priests and nuns, you name it. The book is wrapped in mystery until the very end where all is revealed. You must divorce yourself from reality to read this. It's that fantastical, it deals with archetypes rather than real people which adds to its appeal.

I can't believe that the writer was 19 at the time he penned this and finished it in 10 weeks.

A GREAT GOTHIC TALE

It is a very good book and one of the best ive ever read. It is diffenently a must for anyone who likes horror. I admire Matthew G. Lewis for coming up with the entire tale at such a young age.

the best book I've ever read

This novel is both intriguing and disturbing at the same time. Ambrosio's character is one to be pitied and learned from. His one fatal flaw-hubris-ultimately led to his downfall. Following his descention into hell is a most disturbing experience for the reader.

must read if you like gothic

Better than Anne Rice Monk is pretty scary and entertaining. I'm surprise a movie of this book has not been made.

A great gothic romance

This was a fantastic novel! The plot was a bit convoluted at times, and somewhat hard to follow, but Lewis ties things up rather nicely with a climax that is rather shocking, considering the time period in which the book was written. Definately recomended!

El Monk

Es muy exellente. This novel kept my attention all of the way through. It is a classic battle of good and evil.

A classic

'The Monk' has all the elements of a good adventure, including good twists and the ability to shock and surprise, which I did not expect for a book written in 1796. Highly recommended.

A Gothic Novel that will keep your attention!

'The Monk' starts out slow, but once you get into it it takes you on a whirlwind of vanity, piousness, deception and the failings of humanity while at the same time leaves you with faith for the greater good.

Outstanding

This book was great. The beginning is a little slow, but once the plot falls into place the ending will shock you.

very predictable

this was an interesting book, however by reading simply the back cover all was to predictable, except for Matilda.