Vathek, a virtual fantasy autobiography of William Beckford, was the first Oriental Gothic horror novel in English literature. First published in 1786, it relates the story of the villainous Caliph Vathek, a man devoted to sensual pleasures and obsessed with the acquisition of knowledge and beautiful objects alike, who builds a great tower to 'penetrate the secrets of heaven'. Set in the exotic surroundings of Arabia, Vathek is a classic tale of lust for riches and power, where magic, trickery and betrayal abound.
| ISBN: | 9781845880606 |
| Publication date: | 29th July 2005 |
| Author: | William Beckford |
| Publisher: | Nonsuch an imprint of The History Press |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Pagination: | 160 pages |
| Series: | Nonsuch Classics |
| Genres: |
Classic fiction: general and literary |