Charles Maturin

Melmoth the Wanderer (1820) is a novel by Charles Maturin. Written toward the end of Maturin’s life, Melmoth the Wanderer was the author’s fifth and most successful novel. Inspired by the story of the Wandering Jew and the Faustian legend, the novel is a powerful Gothic romance divided into nested stories, each one delving deeper into the mystery of Melmoth’s life. Often interpreted for its criticisms of 19th century Britain and the Catholic Church, Melmoth the Wanderer is considered one of the greatest novels of the Romantic era. Following a lead from a story told at his uncle’s funeral, John Melmoth, a student from Dublin, begins an obsessive search into his family’s mysterious past. Little is known about the man called “Melmoth the Traveller.” A portrait dated 1646 suggests that he has been dead for over a century. Despite this, he discovers a manuscript from a stranger named Stanton who claims to have seen Melmoth on several occasions over the past few decades. John tracks him down and finds him at a mental institution, where he was placed when his obsession with Melmoth was deemed insanity. Disturbed, John burns the portrait and attempts to put his questions behind him. Soon, he begins having visions of his own. Melmoth the Wanderer is a story of mystery and terror that engages with timeless themes of faith, fantasy, and the thin line between dreams and life. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Charles Maturin’s Melmoth the Wanderer is a classic of Irish literature reimagined for modern readers.

Fatal Revenge; Or, the Family of Montorio (1807) is a novel by Charles Maturin. Published under the psueudonym Dennis Jasper Murphy, Fatal Revenge; Or, the Family of Montorio was Maturin’s debut novel. Largely ignored by critics and readers, it managed to draw attention from Sir Walter Scott, who supported Maturin’s efforts and encouraged him to pursue a career as a writer. Despite its humble beginnings, Fatal Revenge; Or, the Family of Montorio is considered a masterpiece of Gothic romance. “Their palaces were haunted by groups of monks, and magicians, and alchymists, and astrologers; and amid the most superstitious state of the country of superstition, the House of Montorio was distinguished by weak and gloomy credulity.” At the siege of Barcelona in 1697, two brothers of mysterious origin fight bravely and gain the respect of their fellow officers. When the fighting has ceased, they are counted among the dead. Gathering his subordinates, their commandant, “acquainted with their name, and their country, and their misfortunes,” begins to tell the story of their cursed family. Fatal Revenge; Or, the Family of Montorio is a story of mystery and terror that engages with timeless themes of loyalty, fantasy, and fate. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Charles Maturin’s Fatal Revenge; Or, the Family of Montorio is a classic of Irish literature reimagined for modern readers.

Revered as a true gothic masterpiece, "Melmoth the Wanderer" is the last complete work by the Irish author and playwright, Charles Maturin. Since its publication in 1820 it has been admired by such authors as Sir Walter Scott, Honor de Balzac, Edgar Allan Poe, and Maturin's great nephew, Oscar Wilde. In this story of temptation, villainy, and a satanic bargain for immortality, Maturin offers his social commentary on early nineteenth century England and unabashedly attacks Roman Catholicism. The Wanderer, having engaged in a pact with the devil in exchange for extended life, is doomed to a tortured existence searching for someone to take on his Satanic contract, allowing him to die a natural death. Although Melmoth epitomizes the Faustian figure, Maturin creates a singularly unique character with the added complexities of sympathy, love, and conscience, and secures this cryptic portrayal of evil a place in literary history as the quintessential Gothic novel. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

Fatal Revenge; Or, the Family of Montorio (1807) is a novel by Charles Maturin. Published under the psueudonym Dennis Jasper Murphy, Fatal Revenge; Or, the Family of Montorio was Maturin’s debut novel. Largely ignored by critics and readers, it managed to draw attention from Sir Walter Scott, who supported Maturin’s efforts and encouraged him to pursue a career as a writer. Despite its humble beginnings, Fatal Revenge; Or, the Family of Montorio is considered a masterpiece of Gothic romance. “Their palaces were haunted by groups of monks, and magicians, and alchymists, and astrologers; and amid the most superstitious state of the country of superstition, the House of Montorio was distinguished by weak and gloomy credulity.” At the siege of Barcelona in 1697, two brothers of mysterious origin fight bravely and gain the respect of their fellow officers. When the fighting has ceased, they are counted among the dead. Gathering his subordinates, their commandant, “acquainted with their name, and their country, and their misfortunes,” begins to tell the story of their cursed family. Fatal Revenge; Or, the Family of Montorio is a story of mystery and terror that engages with timeless themes of loyalty, fantasy, and fate. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Charles Maturin’s Fatal Revenge; Or, the Family of Montorio is a classic of Irish literature reimagined for modern readers.

Melmoth the Wanderer (1820) is a novel by Charles Maturin. Written toward the end of Maturin’s life, Melmoth the Wanderer was the author’s fifth and most successful novel. Inspired by the story of the Wandering Jew and the Faustian legend, the novel is a powerful Gothic romance divided into nested stories, each one delving deeper into the mystery of Melmoth’s life. Often interpreted for its criticisms of 19th century Britain and the Catholic Church, Melmoth the Wanderer is considered one of the greatest novels of the Romantic era. Following a lead from a story told at his uncle’s funeral, John Melmoth, a student from Dublin, begins an obsessive search into his family’s mysterious past. Little is known about the man called “Melmoth the Traveller.” A portrait dated 1646 suggests that he has been dead for over a century. Despite this, he discovers a manuscript from a stranger named Stanton who claims to have seen Melmoth on several occasions over the past few decades. John tracks him down and finds him at a mental institution, where he was placed when his obsession with Melmoth was deemed insanity. Disturbed, John burns the portrait and attempts to put his questions behind him. Soon, he begins having visions of his own. Melmoth the Wanderer is a story of mystery and terror that engages with timeless themes of faith, fantasy, and the thin line between dreams and life. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Charles Maturin’s Melmoth the Wanderer is a classic of Irish literature reimagined for modern readers.

Melmoth the Wanderer is a violent story about a man who sold his soul to the devil in exchange of a longer life, but he regretted about his deal and now preys on the helpless in their darkest moments, offering to ease their suffering if they will take his place and release him from his centuries of tortured wanderings. Looking back to the development of the classic gothic literature, it's impossible not to mention Melmoth the Wanderer. This was one of those titles that helped to shape the Gothic fiction itself, and, along with The Castle of Otranto, The Monk, and the works of Ann Radcliffe, it is absolutely essential to understand the literary horror aesthetic of the turn of the century in the European context. This Victorian classic also influenced Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. Melmoth's plot was inspired by many medieval legends that make references to the soul-selling pact with the devil, like Faust and The Wandering Jew. The urtext that provided the outline of all these classic stories was the unholy trade made on earth that bars entry to heaven. This theme was central in many ancient and medieval narratives and served as a storyline base for the main horror stories written and published at that time. A classic of Irish literature that certainly deserves to be read and debated more and more.

Melmoth kan ses som en av de mest djävulska karaktärerna i litteraturen. I en satanisk förhandling byter han in sin själ mot evigt liv. Berättelsen om hans näst intill tortyrliknande vandringar genom århundraden binds samman av dem som Melmoth ber ta över hans pakt med djävulen. Att läsa "Melmoth" är som att öppna upp en matrjosjkadocka berättelser inuti varandra där Melmoths skugga och spår kan skymtas men aldrig jagas i kapp, där skiljelinjen mellan geni och dårskap är mycket tunn. Charles Maturin tog med sitt diaboliska verk "Melmoth" den gotiska romanen till en ny makaber nivå, som i sin tur har inspirerat storheter som Poe, Balzac, Baudelaire, Lovecraft och Oscar Wilde.

"Leixlip Castle" is a 1825 novel by Charles R. Maturin. Charles Robert Maturin (1782 - 1824) was a writer of Gothic literature and Irish Protestant clergyman best known for the novel "Melmoth the Wanderer", a story about a scholar who sold his soul to the devil in exchange for 150 extra years of life. This gripping novel will appeal to lovers of Gothic literature and is not to be missed by those who have read and enjoyed other works by this seminal author. Other notable works by Maturin include: "The Fatal Revenge" (1807), "The Wild Irish Boy (1808)", and "The Milesian Chief" (1812). Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.

The Penguin English Library Edition of Melmoth the Wanderer by Charles Maturin'My hour is come ... the clock of eternity is about to strike, but its knell must be unheard by mortal ears!'This violent, profound, baroque and blackly humorous novel is the story of Melmoth, who has sold his soul in exchange for immortality in a satanic bargain, and now preys on the helpless in their darkest moments, offering to ease their suffering if they will take his place and release him from his centuries of tortured wanderings. Melmoth the Wanderer (1820) blended Gothic fiction and psychological realism to create a work of hallucinatory power. The Penguin English Library - beautiful editions of the best fiction in English, from the eighteenth century to the Second World War.