Beckford's Gothic novel, "Vathek", an Arabian tale, was originally written in French when the author was 21. It is the story of Caliph Vathek, whose eye can kill at a glance, who makes a pact with the Devil, Eblis

The Castle of Otranto - Horace Walpole The History of Caliph Vathek - William Beckford The Mysteries of Udolpho - Ann Radcliffe Caleb Williams - William Godwin Wieland: or, The Transformation - Charles Brockden Brown Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen Frankenstein - Mary Shelley Melmoth the Wanderer (Lock and Key Version) - Charles Robert Maturin The Legend of Sleepy Hollow - Washington Irving The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner - James Hogg St. John's Eve - Nikolai Gogol...

Written in 1786, this Oriental fantasy tells the story of a dissolute and debauched Caliph, Vathek. Having become obsessed with power and immortality, Vathek embarks on a journey to obtain supernatural powers, in pursuit of which he proves willing to renounce his religion and sacrifice both his children and his soul. We follow Vathek’s remarkable travels to the subterranean palace of Eblis, where his ultimate fate awaits him. Among the themes explored in Vathek are ambition, desire and the...

Vathek, ninth Caliph of the race of the Abassides, was the son of Motassem, and the grandson of Haroun Al Raschid.From an early accession to the throne, and the talents he possessed to adorn it, his subjects were induced to expect that his reign would be long and happy. His figure was pleasing and majestic; but when he was angry one of his eyes became so terrible that no person could bear to behold it, and the wretch upon whom it was fixed instantly fell backward, and sometimes exp...

The exotic tale of one man's unquenchable thirst for powerVathek, the ninth Caliph of the Abassides, took the throne at a young age. He debates the most knowledgeable scholars of the day, jailing them if they disagree with him. He possesses an evil eye that can kill lesser men with a single look. He is proud, and he is powerful. Still, he wants more—more knowledge, more power, more women. When a hideous merchant from India arrives in his court bearing glowing swords...

Vathek, neuvième calife des Abassides vit aux confins de l'Orient à Samarah. Esthète et curieux, il entreprend la construction d'une tour pour y lire le ciel. Mais sa cruauté est aussi redoutée par ceux qui s'opposent à lui. Un jour, un marchand vient lui proposer deux sabres portant une inscription que nul ne peut déchiffrer. Un vieillard parvient à les transcrire confirmant que ces sabres sont destinés au souverain le plus puissant. Vathek s'en trouve flatté… mais le lendemain, le calife...

William Beckford's 'Vathek; An Arabian Tale' is a rich tapestry woven from the threads of Gothic horror, Oriental fantasy, and social critique. Published in 1786, this novel recounts the tale of the opulent yet morally decadent Caliph Vathek, whose insatiable appetite for power and knowledge leads him to pursue forbidden magic. Beckford's prose is infused with lavish descriptions and a heightened sense of atmosphere that immerses the reader in a world where the exotic and the grotesque int...

Vathek (alternatively titled Vathek, an Arabian Tale or The History of the Caliph Vathek) is a Gothic novel written by William Beckford. 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 from Arabic. The first French edition, titled simply as Vathek, was published in December 1786 (p...

The Castle of Otranto - Horace Walpole The History of Caliph Vathek - William Beckford The Mysteries of Udolpho - Ann Radcliffe Caleb Williams - William Godwin Wieland: or, The Transformation - Charles Brockden Brown Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen Frankenstein - Mary Shelley Melmoth the Wanderer (Lock and Key Version) - Charles Robert Maturin The Legend of Sleepy Hollow - Washington Irving The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner - James Hogg St. John's Eve - Nikolai Gogol...

Ambientato a Samarah nel IX secolo, "Vathek" ha per protagonista l'omonimo personaggio, califfo abbaside che si interessa dell'occulto. Dopo aver conosciuto uno straniero dall'aria misteriosa, Vathek accetta di prestarsi a rituali cruenti e terribili, solo per poter conoscere le verità che egli sostiene di potergli rivelare. Giaour – questo il suo nome – è in realtà un demone, che minaccia di allontanare Vathek dalla religione coi suoi perfidi tranelli. Solo la bella Nouronihar, insieme al...

"The History of Caliph Vathek" is a richly woven narrative that emerges from the vibrant tapestry of Gothic literature, blending elements of Orientalism with the sublime. This 1786 work features the extravagant and tyrannical caliph Vathek, whose insatiable thirst for knowledge and power leads him on a darkly comical quest through fantastical realms. Beckford's elaborate prose, infused with sensuous imagery and allegorical depth, compels readers to explore themes of excess, ambition, and m...

In "Italy; with Sketches of Spain and Portugal," William Beckford presents a vivid and immersive exploration of the landscapes, cultures, and people encountered during his travels through the Iberian Peninsula. Characterized by a richly descriptive literary style, the work intertwines personal anecdotes with astute observations, capturing the essence of each locale with an almost painterly quality. Beckford's narrative unfolds against the backdrop of early 19th-century Europe, framing his ...