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The Monk - Community Reviews back

by Matthew Gregory Lewis, John Berryman
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BrokenTune
BrokenTune rated it 5 years ago
I hope to write a proper review of this book later, but for now, all I want to say is that this has been the most fun and diabolical romp through the darkest recesses of Gothic fiction that I have ever come across. I'm not sure it is a book I would recommend without reservations because there are...
Shiftyj1
Shiftyj1 rated it 7 years ago
I loved the language of this one. It had a deliciously creepy old school vibe to it. Probably on the account that is was originally penned in 1796. Truly a classic and holds up remarkably well.
WhiskeyintheJar Romance
WhiskeyintheJar Romance rated it 8 years ago
Dreams, magic terrors, spells of mighty power, Witches, and ghosts who rove at midnight hour. It's said this was written by a 19/20 yr old and within 10 weeks, which if true, is amazing. The format of having a main character, Ambrosio (the monk), and then having secondary characters branch off ...
LittleBookCove
LittleBookCove rated it 9 years ago
This amazing masterpiece of Gothic romance was written in 1796 by a 19 year old. Pre-dating Edgar Allan Poe, it conjures a dark world of catacombs, shrouded figures and death. The language and style of the period may take a bit of getting used to, but it is well worth sticking with. There are sev...
Book Life is Real Life
Book Life is Real Life rated it 9 years ago
The Monk is said to be the archetypal Gothic novel. Sure enough, it has monks and nuns behaving badly ("behaving badly" is an understatement, really), ghosts, sex, bandits, rape, incest, violent mob and devilish pact. I had high expectation for this novel.The titular monk is Ambrosio, a man so devou...
Climbing Mount TBR
Climbing Mount TBR rated it 9 years ago
I'm surprised I haven't heard of this book previously. It has all the required elements of the 18th century romance. The monk who is without compare, complete in all virtues who you know is doomed to fall from grace. Multiple star crossed lovers, ghosts and sorcery.
The English Student
The English Student rated it 10 years ago
Urgh. Another clunky, lurid Gothic fantasy from notorious one-trick pony Matthew Lewis. The Monk (a title clearly dreamed up in some moment of stunning inspiration) details the corruption of Spanish monk Ambrosio by Lust and Pride. It's a novel that well and truly dispels any illusions of eighteen...
Bettie's Books
Bettie's Books rated it 11 years ago
bookshelves: e-book, gutenberg-project, published-1796, gothic, adventure, catholic, classic, poison, suicide, summer-2010, swashbuckler, boo-scary Read from August 16 to 19, 2010 Author Lewis, M. G. (Matthew Gregory), 1775-1818Title The Monk; a romanceLanguage EnglishLoC Class PR: Language and ...
Lisa (Harmony)
Lisa (Harmony) rated it 11 years ago
Published in 1796, according to the introduction this is one of the foundational novels of the Gothic genre and thus horror. Interestingly, Lewis was only 19 years old when he wrote it, the same age as Mary Shelley when she published Frankenstein. The novel involves three intertwined stories: Ambros...
JeffreyKeeten
JeffreyKeeten rated it 11 years ago
”Lucifer stood before him a second time. He borrowed the Seraph’s form to deceive Ambrosio. He appeared in all that ugliness, which since his fall from heaven had been his portion: His blasted limbs still bore marks of the Almighty’s thunder: A swarthy darkness spread itself over his gigantic form: ...
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