Vathek By William Beckford (Paperback, 2013)

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' Woe to the rash mortal who seeks to know that of which he should remain ignorant; & to undertake that which surpasseth his power!' The Caliph Vathek is dissolute & debauched & hungry for knowledge When the mysterious Giaour offers him boundless treasure & unrivalled power he is willing to sacrifice his god the lives of innocent children & his own soul to satisfy his obsession Vathek's extraordinary journey to the subterranean palace of Eblis & the terrifying fate that there awaits him is a captivating tale of magic & oriental fantasy sudden violence & corrupted love whose mix of moral fable grotesque comedy & evocative beauty defies classification Originally written by Beckford in French at the age of only 21 its dreamlike qualities have influenced writers from Byron to H P Lovecraft This new edition reprints Beckford's authorized English text of 1816 with its elaborate & entertaining notes In his new introduction Thomas Keymer examines the novel's relations to a range of literary genres & cultural contexts ABOUT THE SERIES For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features including expert introductions by leading authorities helpful notes to clarify the text up-to-date bibliographies for further study & much more