Melmoth the Wanderer

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.

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.

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.

Created by an Irish clergyman, Melmoth is one of the most fiendish characters in literature. In a satanic bargain, Melmoth exchanges his soul for immortality. The story of his tortured wanderings through the centuries is pieced together through those who have been implored by Melmoth to take over his pact with the devil. Influenced by the Gothic romances of the late 18th century, Maturin's diabolic tale raised the genre to a new and macabre pitch. Its many admirers include Poe, Balzac, Oscar Wilde and Baudelaire.

Created by an Irish clergyman, Melmoth is one of the most fiendish characters in literature. In a satanic bargain, Melmoth exchanges his soul for immortality. The story of his tortured wanderings through the centuries is pieced together through those who have been implored by Melmoth to take over his pact with the devil. Influenced by the Gothic romances of the late 18th century, Maturin's diabolic tale raised the genre to a new and macabre pitch. Its many admirers include Poe, Balzac, Oscar Wilde and Baudelaire.

What if immortality knocked-when hope lay in ashes? Charles Maturin's Melmoth the Wanderer is a sprawling tapestry of nested tales, each revealing another soul cornered by despair and another visit from the spectral tempter. Stitched with devils, monks, madhouses, and forbidden romance, the novel probes humanity's breaking point-and the terrible cost of saying "yes." What You'll Discover in This Modern Translation: The Pact of Eternal Wandering - Follow Melmoth across centuries as he offers his curse like a poisoned gift. Five Interlocking Gothic Histories - Spanish inquisitors, Indian sisters, shipwrecked sailors, and more-each bound by terror. Philosophical Depth & Romantic Melancholy - Explore fate, faith, and free will amid storms and catacombs. The Novel That Shaped Gothic Tradition - A direct influence on Dracula , Faust retellings, and dark fantasy today. Reader-Focused Clarity - Archaic syntax refined, footnotes trimmed, pacing tightened for twenty-first-century immersion. Doom-soaked yet hypnotic, this is the definitive saga of temptation and damnation.

What if immortality knocked-when hope lay in ashes? Charles Maturin's Melmoth the Wanderer is a sprawling tapestry of nested tales, each revealing another soul cornered by despair and another visit from the spectral tempter. Stitched with devils, monks, madhouses, and forbidden romance, the novel probes humanity's breaking point-and the terrible cost of saying "yes." What You'll Discover in This Modern Translation: The Pact of Eternal Wandering - Follow Melmoth across centuries as he offers his curse like a poisoned gift.Five Interlocking Gothic Histories - Spanish inquisitors, Indian sisters, shipwrecked sailors, and more-each bound by terror.Philosophical Depth & Romantic Melancholy - Explore fate, faith, and free will amid storms and catacombs.The Novel That Shaped Gothic Tradition - A direct influence on Dracula, Faust retellings, and dark fantasy today.Reader-Focused Clarity - Archaic syntax refined, footnotes trimmed, pacing tightened for twenty-first-century immersion. Doom-soaked yet hypnotic, this is the definitive saga of temptation and damnation.

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.