Vathek by William Beckford

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About this eBook

Author Beckford, William, 1760-1844
Title Vathek
Note Reading ease score: 73.0 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
Credits Produced by Laurent Vogel (This book was produced from
scanned images of public domain material from the Google
Books project.)
Summary "Vathek" by William Beckford is a Gothic novel written in the late 18th century. The story follows the extravagant and hedonistic Caliph Vathek, who is obsessed with the pursuit of knowledge and pleasure, ultimately leading him on a dark journey toward his own destruction. The book weaves together themes of ambition, decadence, and the supernatural, providing a critical reflection on the excesses of power. The opening of the book introduces us to Caliph Vathek, the ninth Caliph of the Abbasid dynasty, who is characterized by both grandeur and tyranny. He is depicted as a ruler immersed in sensual pleasures and grandiose architectural pursuits, constructing lavish palaces dedicated to each of the five senses. As Vathek’s insatiable hunger for knowledge and supremacy drives him to seek out forbidden sciences and mysterious powers, he encounters an enigmatic foreigner whose treasures ignite his curiosity. However, Vathek's relentless ambition quickly spirals into chaos, setting the stage for the dark consequences that ensue throughout the tale. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language French
LoC Class PQ: Language and Literatures: Romance literatures: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Subject Fantasy fiction
Subject Gothic fiction
Subject Arab countries -- Fiction
Subject Middle East -- Fiction
Category Text
EBook-No. 57832
Release Date
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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