The Monk: A Romance.

London: Gibbings & Company, 1906. Early 20th century printing of the author's classic gothic novel. Octavo, three volumes in the original publisher's cloth decorated in gilt, illustrated with etchings by R.C. Armour, engraved frontispiece to each volume. In near fine condition. A very attractive example of one of the most important Gothic novels of its time. A quintessential example of Gothic literature, Matthew Gregory Lewis published The Monk in 1796 when he was only nineteen years of age. Despite its rapid composition, completed in as little as ten weeks according to some accounts, the novel showcases Lewis's prodigious talent and literary ambition. Its labyrinthine and scandalous plot, replete with elements of horror and the supernatural, quickly established The Monk as a cornerstone of Gothic fiction. The work remains a seminal work in the Gothic genre, revered for its dark and atmospheric storytelling and its influence on subsequent generations of writers and artists.