Charles Maturin

First published in 1820, "Melmoth the Wanderer" is a Gothic novel by Irish writer Charles Maturin. Melmoth is a learned academic who, in order to extend his life by a century and a half, endeavours to sell his soul to the devil. However, his newly-gifted time on earth is not spent enjoying the pleasures of life, but instead seeking out someone to take over his diabolical deal. The narrative is presented as a series of stories within stories and contains much in the way of social and religious commentary. Originating from Horace Walpole's seminal 1764 novel "The Castle of Otranto", books of the Gothic genre often include themes of death, romance and horror. This volume is widely considered to be the last of the traditional "Gothic" novels, and it is therefore not to be missed by fans of the often gruesome and invariably chilling genre. Charles Robert Maturin (1782 - 1824) was a member of the Irish Protestant clergy and writer most famous for writing this novel. Other notable works by this author include: "The Fatal Revenge" (1807), "The Wild Irish Boy" (1808), and "The Milesian Chief" (1812). Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in a modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially commissioned new biography of the author.

Written by an eccentric Anglican curate, Melmoth the Wanderer (1820) brought the terrors of the Gothic novel to a new fever pitch of intensity. Its tormented villain seeks a victim to release from his fatal pact with the devil, and Maturin's bizarre narrative structure whirls the reader from rural Ireland to an idyllic Indian island, from a London madhouse to the dungeons of the Spanish inquisition. 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, and much more.