Vathek by william beckford

Wikipedia article, commons category, wikidata item. The castle of otranto, vathek, the vampyre, and a fragment of a novel, and more on. William thomas beckford 1 october 1760 2 may 1844 was an english novelist, a profligate and consummately knowledgeable art collector and patron of works of decorative art, a critic, travel writer and sometime politician, reputed at one stage in his life to be the richest commoner in england. Considered a masterpiece of bizarre invention and sustained fantasy, vathek was written in french in 1782 and was translated into english by the authors friend the rev. William beckford s vathek is usually classified as a gothic novel, and it does indeed contain many of the same elements as the gothic novels more typically set in europe, including a defiant and.

William thomas beckford 17601844 was a novelist, an art collector, a critic, a composer, a travel writer, and a politician. It was composed in french beginning in 1782, and then translated into english by reverend samuel henley in which form it was first published in 1786 without beckford s name as an arabian tale, from an unpublished manuscript, claiming to be translated directly. Last week, around 30,000 people downloaded books from my site 8 people gave donations. A sensuous person, he builds five palaces, each devoted to the enjoyment of. Vathek, gothic novel by william beckford, published in 1786. Vathek article about vathek by the free dictionary. William was instructed by tutors at home, and was later a pupil of mozart. But this never happened for a number of reasons and while scholars knew these episodes were. Oxford university press, 197049, 187 pages vathek alternatively titled vathek, an arabian tale or the history of the caliph vathek is a gothic novel written by william beckford. Vathek alternatively titled vathek, an arabian tale or the history of the caliph vathek is a gothic horror novel written by william beckford. Its hero is the caliph vathek who renounces islam in a hedonistic quest for supernatural powers, which leads to his downfall.

William beckford 17601844, was an english novelist, a profligate and consummately knowledgeable art collector and patron of works of decorative art, a critic, travel writer and sometime politician, reputed at one stage in his life to be the richest commoner in england. William beckford nabu press william beckford william beckford. Beckfords gothic novel, vathek, an arabian tale, was originally written in french when the author was 21. At the end of the novel, instead of attaining these powers, vathek descends into a hell ruled by the. The caliph vathek is one of the wealthiest and most powerful men who ever lived. The broadview edition includes a newly discovered early version of the first episode, never before in print, that centres. He also is renowned for having built fonthill abbey, the most sensational building of the english gothic revival. Vathek ebook by william beckford 9781504010726 rakuten. Such writers as george gordon, lord byron, and stephane mallarme acknowledged his genius. However, there are a great many supernatural elements taken from arab mythology, at least as. Frankenstein by mary shelley,william beckford,horace walpole and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.

Vathek by william beckford, 9780199576951, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. These books can take me from 2 to 10 hours to create. Considered a masterpiece of bizarre invention and sustained fantasy, vathek was written in french. His parents were william beckford and maria hamilton, daughter of the hon. Vathek is an arabian caliph whose reign is marked by turbulence and unrest. Buy a cheap copy of vathek book by william beckford.

It explores vatheks different identities religious, artistic, and colonial and proves the presence of the. Product title the history of the caliph vathek by william beckfo. His father was a member of parliament, a former lord mayor of london, and a very wealthy man. The 1819century was noted for an obsession of all things oriental. William beckfords wealthy caliph vathek, to give one example, can kill those who anger him with a single glance, but he refrains mostly for fear of depopulating his dominions and making his palace desolate. The novel chronicles the fall from power of the caliph vathek a fictionalized version of the historical alwathiq, who renounces islam and engages with his mother, carathis, in a series of licentious and deplorable activities designed to gain him supernatural powers. William beckford edited by thomas keymer oxford worlds classics. One of the strangest and most unforgettable eighteenthcentury novels, vatheks tale of the caliphs obsessive quest for knowledge, and his eternal damnation, is a wild gothic fantasy whose sensuous imagination and grotesque comedy have inspired writers from byron to lovecraft. Vathek is one of the earliest books in english originally written in french though which is commonly classified as a novel, and it is also usually termed a gothic.

The best way i can describe vathek is that its a sort of dark, twisted fairy tale reminiscent of the arabian nights. An arabian tale by william beckford, written when he was just 21 in 1782. Vathek, by william beckford 17601844, is the type of story i find nearly irresistible. It was composed in french beginning in 1782, and then published in 1786 without beckfords name as an arabian tale, from an unpublished manuscript, claiming to be translated directly from arabic. Vathek is considered a gothic novel, but there it little gothic about it. Global grey free pdf, epub, kindle ebook pages pdf. It is to be regretted, that a man of so remarkable a character, did not leave the world some record of a life offering points of interest different from that of any of his contemporaries, from.

Vathek by william beckford, free pdf, ebook global grey. William beckfords vathek, an arabian tale 1786 is perhaps the most bizarre response to europes love affair with all things oriental in the eighteenthcentury. This book is available for free download in a number of formats including epub, pdf, azw, mobi and more. The history of the caliph vathek by william beckford audiobook. The history of the caliph vathek william beckford format. Vathek is a gothic novel written by william beckford. Vathek by william beckford william thomas beckford was born in 1760. This paper examines different layers of identity in william beckfords vathek. See all books authored by william beckford, including vathek, and three gothic novels. Vathek, ninth caliph 7a of the race of the abassides, was the son of motassem, and the grandson of haroun al raschid.

Beckfords genius was in marrying orientalism with the gothic, both sources of fascination and delight to reading audiences of the time. Donate to support old library audiobooks comoldlibraryaudiobooksdonation. Vathek, william beckford, edited with an introduction by roger lonsdale, london. Beckfords later work, the episodes of vathek, shares vatheks irreverent and decadent style, and an edition that unites the two has long been overdue. A sensuous person, he builds five palaces, each devoted to the enjoyment of one of the five senses, and his fondness for. Vathek, 3rd edition, annotated, 1816 transcription project vathek, with introduction, 1887 external scan retrieved from. Vathek is one of the earliest and most influential gothic novels. The history of caliph vathek by william beckford free ebook. William beckfords vathek is a touchstone of eighteenthcentury orientalism and of the gothic novel. It is a combination of a gothic novel and orientalism. It was composed in french beginning in 1782, and then translated into english by reverend samuel.

One of the strangest and most unforgettable eighteenthcentury novels, vathek s tale of the caliphs obsessive quest for knowledge, and his eternal damnation, is a wild gothic fantasy whose sensuous imagination and grotesque comedy have inspired writers from byron to lovecraft. Vathek with the episodes of vathek broadview press. William beckford was the richest man in england at the time, and built fonthill abbey, a huge gothic cathedrallike castle with the highest tower in england, which housed his huge collection of art and other esoteric treasures and included a retinue of lavishly attired foreign servants, including a dwarf who opened the door. There are no churches or castles, and the maiden does not run from the caliph for long. Beckford wrote vathek, his most wellknown work, in 1786. Perverse and grotesque comedy alternates with scenes of oriental magnificence and evocative beauty in the story of the ruthless caliph vatheks journey to superb damnation among the subterranean treasures of eblis. Pdf multilayers of identity in william beckfords vathek. Author of vathek, dreams, waking thoughts, and incidents, life at fonthill, 18071822, the traveldiaries of william beckford of fonthill, biographical memoirs of extraordinary painters, the history of caliph vathek, the episodes of vathek, italy. William beckford books list of books by author william. He excelled in painting, composing music, languages, and writing. Although william beckford was english, vathek was originally written in french and translated into english by reverend samuel henley in 1786. Beckford mixes eastern mythology and islamic culture with elements of the gothic. Beckfords later work, the episodes of vathek, shares.

It is to be regretted, that a man of so remarkable a character, did not leave the world some record of a life offering points of interest different from that of any of his contemporaries, from the. Born the son of a lord mayor of london, beckford was extremely wealthy from a young age, and was once the wealthiest commoner in england. Vathek is the 9th caliph of abassides and is addicted to the pursuit of pleasures for all his senses. I welcome questions, comments, or concerns about the material contained in this video. Ive been working my way through a number of weird fiction tales that weird fiction writer and enthusiast h. It is the story of caliph vathek, whose eye can kill at a. William beckfords vathek is usually classified as a gothic novel, and it does indeed contain many of the same elements as the gothic novels more typically set in europe, including a defiant and. Vathek alternatively titled vathek, an arabian tale or the history of the caliph vathek is a gothic novel written by william beckford. He seeks also forbidden knowledge, and doesnt care who he has to hurt to get it.