LEWIS, Matthew Gregory. The Monk: A Romance. (FIRST EDITION FIRST ISSUE OF THIS IMPORTANT GOTHIC NOVEL - 3 VOLUMES - 1796)
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- SKU:
- 001180
AUTHOR: LEWIS, Matthew Gregory.
TITLE: The Monk: A Romance.
PUBLISHER: London: for J. Bell, 1796.
DESCRIPTION: FIRST EDITION FIRST ISSUE OF THIS IMPORTANT GOTHIC NOVEL. 3 vols., 7" x 4-1/4", with the chainlines on the title pages running horizontally, title-pages to volumes 1 watermarked "1794", bound in near contemporary 1/2 tan calf, gilt lettered spine labels.
CONDITION: Front covers detached, internally clean and bright, in need of a rebacking.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Quite scarce, the last 2 copies sold at auction was were in 2017 for $7,200 and 1991 for $3,300. The 1991 sale was the Bradly Martin copy.
A quickly written book from early in Lewis's career, it was published before he turned twenty. It is a prime example of the male Gothic that specializes in the aspect of horror. Its convoluted and scandalous plot has made it one of the most important Gothic novels of its time, often imitated and adapted for the stage and the screen.
