Matthew "Monk" Lewis was a British playwright and novelist whose The Monk (1796) redefined Gothic fiction with its themes of lust, damnation, and the supernatural. A Member of Parliament, Lewis drew criticism for his novel’s graphic content but gained fame across Europe. His works, including macabre plays like The Castle Spectre, blended horror with social critique. Lewis also campaigned for enslaved people’s rights in Jamaica. His bold storytelling paved the way for Victorian Gothic and horror genres.