First appearing in 1798 during the scandal that followed the publication of M.G. Lewis's "The Monk," "The New Monk" is a ruthless parody of Lewis's Gothic masterpiece.
In this dismantling of the "Monk" tale by "R.S., Esq.," Lewis's Spanish monk Ambrosio is replaced by Joshua Pentateuch, a Methodist minister in London. Like Lewis's monk, Joshua is renowned for his piety and eloquence. But this monk is willing to sell his soul, not to possess a beautiful woman, but to get his hands on her money...and a juicy leg of mutton.
Ostensibly a scathing indictment of Lewis's immorality and an attempt to ridicule his novel, "The New Monk" ironically descends to a level even more grotesque and shocking than "The Monk." Out of print since its initial publication more than two centuries ago and available in only a handful of libraries worldwide, "The New Monk" remains fascinating both as Gothic parody and as a unique look at the 1790s London where Gothic novels were being created and consumed. This edition features a new introduction and notes by Elizabeth Andrews as well as explanatory footnotes. Less
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