Matthew Lewis’s "The Monk" is a landmark of Gothic literature, a shocking and sensational tale of ambition, lust, and supernatural horror. The story is set in the Capuchin monastery in Madrid and centers on Ambrosio, the revered Abbot, who is celebrated throughout the city for his piety, eloquence, and seemingly incorruptible virtue. However, beneath this saintly exterior lies a man susceptible to pride and sensual temptation. His downfall is engineered by Matilda, a young woman who disguises herself as a male novice to be near him and who gradually leads him into a world of sin. Once his moral compass is shattered, Ambrosio plunges into a terrifying abyss of depravity. He becomes obsessed with the innocent Antonia, and to possess her, he is willing to commit increasingly horrific acts, including black magic, rape, and murder. His descent is aided by the intervention of Satanic forces, making a pact with the devil himself to achieve his wicked ends. The novel features a complex subplot involving the Bleeding Nun and the Wandering Jew, intertwining multiple stories of doomed love and spectral vengeance. Matthew Lewis creates a dark and oppressive atmosphere, exploring the corruption of institutional power and the terrifying power of unrestrained desire, culminating in a famously brutal and hellish conclusion for its protagonist.

Table of Contents:

• The Monk. Part 1

• The Monk. Part 2

• The Monk. Part 3

• The Monk. Part 4

• The Monk. Part 5

• The Monk. Part 6

• The Monk. Part 7