By William Beckford
London   Henry Frowde, Amen Corner
7.5" by 5" xxiv, [5], 4-549pp
A leather bound copy of William Beckford's classic Gothic novel, 'Vathek'.
By William Beckford

c1891 The History of the Caliph Vathek and European Travels

London   Henry Frowde, Amen Corner
7.5" by 5" xxiv, [5], 4-549pp
A leather bound copy of William Beckford's classic Gothic novel, 'Vathek'.
Sold
: 0.75kgs / : 713L5

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Description

Leather Binding

Bookplate to the front pastedown, 'T M Reed'. 

Illustrated, with a frontispiece and seven plates. 

An influential novel, which was the source of Lord Byron's poem 'The Giaour'. Byron also cites Vathek in 'Childe Harold's Pilgrimage'. Other Romantic poets took inspiration from this work, and set their own titles in the Middle East. H.P Lovecraft is another author who held Vathek in high esteem. His unfinished novel 'Azathoth' was inspired by Vathek, as was his 'The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath'. Beckford originally wrote this novel in French, and it was translated by his friend the Rev Samuel Henley, who contributed to the critical and explanatory notes. Chapman notes that Beckford wished for a French edition to appear first, as stated in a letter to Henley dated 9 February 1786.

 At the time of writing, Orientalism had heavily influenced European culture. The novel is titled as an 'Arabian tale' because of its depiction of oriental cultures, societies and myth. As a Gothic novel, Beckford experiments with the supernatural, ghosts and spirits. It uses a third person, omniscient and semi-intrusive narrator.

William Beckford was a notable author, art collector and sometime politician. He built the now lost Gothic Revival country house, Fonthill Abbey and 'Beckford's Tower', an architectural folly in Lansdown, Bath.

This copy is from the Minerva Library of Famous Books.

Condition

In a half morocco binding, with paper covered boards. Externally, sound with rubbing to the joints and extremities. Small loss to the head of spine. Bookplate to the front pastedown, T M Reed. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are very bright. Offsetting to the rear of plate 'Grand Canal, Venice'. Otherwise, just the odd spot.

Very Good

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