Author: William Beckford
Title: Vathek
Description: London, W. Clarke, 1816. Leather. The third edition of this monumental early Gothic novel by William Beckford, a sought after early edition, illustrated with a frontispiece. The third edition of this popular work.Illustrated with a frontispiece. Errata slip present before page 1. Bound without the half-title, and adverts.First published in 1786, 'Vathek' is an early Gothic novel, chronicling the fall from power of Caliph Vathek, as he renounces Islam and tries to gain supernatural powers.Though William Beckford was best known for 'Vathek', he also built what is now known as Beckford's Tower in Bath, alongside the lost Fonthill Abbey, a Gothic revival country house in Wiltshire.An influential novel, which was the source of Lord Byron's poem 'The Giaour&apos. He also cites Vathek in 'Childe Harold's Pilgrimage&apos. 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&apos. In a rebacked half calf binding with marbled paper to the boards. Externally, generally smart. Rubbing to the boards. Light bumping to the extremities. A small amount of loss of paper to the extremity of the rear board. Very light rubbing to the spine. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are lightly age-toned and generally clean, with a few scattered spots. Offset ink inscription to the recto of the frontispiece. Small closed tear to the tail of leaf F8. Very Good . Ill.: Not Stated. Very Good .

Keywords: Vathek william beckford gothic caliph vathek william beckford Not Stated


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