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Vathek (Oxford World's Classics)
 
 
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Vathek (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)

by William Beckford (Author), Roger Lonsdale (Editor) "VATHEK, ninth Caliph of the race of the Abassides, was the son of Motassem, and the grandson of Haroun al Raschid ..." (more)
4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Oxford Paperbacks; New edition edition (26 Nov 1998)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0192836560
  • ISBN-13: 978-0192836564
  • Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 12.6 x 1.2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 162,793 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #2 in  Books > Horror > Authors > Classic Authors > Beckford, William

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Product Description

Sydney Conger, Western Illinois University
"With its careful editing, its appendices, maps, and bibliography, this new, expanded edition of Vathek is, all in all, superb." --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Description
Beckford's Gothic novel, "Vathek", an Arabian tale, was originally written in French when the author was 21. It is the story of Caliph Vathek, whose eye can kill at a glance, who makes a pact with the Devil, Eblis.

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VATHEK, ninth Caliph of the race of the Abassides, was the son of Motassem, and the grandson of Haroun al Raschid. Read the first page
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18 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars not an easy read, 9 Feb 2001
By x (x) - See all my reviews
I read Vathek in my late teens when I had a fascination with all things macabre. I was not dissapointed with Vathek on this point but what irritated me then, and still does now, is the rather contrived and inpenetrable style in which it is written (or possibly translated). There is not much of a story to it, but some of the episodes are entertaining- I was particularly amused by the one about someone having half their beard burned off.

If you are a big fan of the gothic genre then you'll probably take great delight in Vathek, but for the more general reader it is something of a pain. The elements are there, it's just not done with enough finesse.

I read an unillustrated edition myself- I'm sure that Redon's illustrations add a lot to the reading experience.

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9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Often overlooked, but a brilliant pice of English literature, 11 Jan 2006
By Mr. A. Willmer "Mojo Pin" (London) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)      
'Vathek' the novel is peverse, twisted and politically incorrect to the extreme. The main protagonist himslef is likewise viscious and completely 'evil' if such a thing does exist. Yet it is perhaps these two facets that help to make 'Vathek' so compelling, so fresh and so orignal and down-right funny. That's right, if you have a wicked sense of humour and enjoy the odd toilet joke then this book is certainly for you.

However, it would be wrong to suggets that 'Vathek' is nothing more than a series of smutty jokes and grusome scenes. It is much more. Beckford supposedly wrote the novel within 48hrs - without sleep! In spite of this he has somehow managed to create a world that pushes the imaginative envelope to the extreme. This book will live with me for life. READ IT!

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