The Monk: A Romance by Matthew Lewis is a dark and twisted tale filled with passion, intrigue, and supernatural elements. The story follows Ambrosio, a respected monk whose descent into sin and depravity leads to his ultimate downfall.

Lewis' writing is vivid and evocative, painting a vivid picture of the corrupt and decadent world in which Ambrosio resides. The characters are complex and morally ambiguous, making them both compelling and repulsive in equal measure.

The novel's exploration of themes such as temptation, religion, and the nature of evil is both thought-provoking and unsettling. The plot is full of twists and turns, keeping the reader guessing until the very end.

Overall, The Monk: A Romance is a haunting and gripping read that will stay with you long after you finish it. It is not for the faint of heart, but if you enjoy dark and Gothic literature, this book is definitely worth a read.

Book Description:

Matthew Gregory Lewis's The Monk: A Romance is a story of frustrated and unrequited desire between mentor and pupil mixed with elements of the supernatural. It includes several subplots: rape, torture and incest. It is the old story of the forces of good versus the forces of evil, except that in this one evil comes out ahead.

When The Monk was first published in 1795, it was received well by readers and reviewers causing a second edition to be printed the following year. But by the third year, there began a growing criticism of the book and of Lewis mostly on the basis of immorality. In fact, the book caused such a scandal that Lewis published another version complete with redactions and entire rewrites so as to remove the shame it had brought upon his family and the political institution of which he was a part.

The Monk finds itself straddling the genres of Gothicism and Decadence, and includes elements of Romanticism. Lewis also chose to blend the roles of gender in this work--particularly in the character of Rosario/Matilda. The sexual tension between Ambrosio and this character--along with the eventual revelation of true identity--are an exposé on the topic of same-sex love and makes this work an early contribution to LGBT literature.

In spite of the mountains of criticism against the book, it remained a best seller well into the 19th century. The version I will read for you is the unexpurgated version including all of the “scandal and immorality” of the original. (Introduction by James K. White)