William Beckford Books In Order

Novels

  1. Vathek (1786)

Collections

  1. The Episodes of Vathek (1912)
  2. The Vision (1930)
  3. Vathek and Other Stories (1970)

Non fiction

  1. Modern Novel Writing (1769)
  2. Recollections of an Excursion (1972)
  3. Dreams, Waking Thoughts and Incidents (1972)

Novels Book Covers

Collections Book Covers

Non fiction Book Covers

William Beckford Books Overview

Vathek

Witches, demons, human sacrifices and other spectral horrors: all intercept Vathek as he journeys to the underworld in this weird and wonderful gothic masterpiece. This classic of 18th century Gothic literature, was highly acclaimed by such eminent writers as Byron and H P Lovecraft and remains the most extreme example of this genre. Originally composed in French, Vathek was translated into English in 1816, and it is this version which is now presented as part of the popular Creation Classics series. The book includes lithographs by the symbolist artist Odilon Redon, complementing the bizarre text and making this the most completely decadent edition available in print. An introduction by Jeremy Reed illuminates both the text and the eccentric life of William Beckford, a youthful millionaire who spent his fortunes on building the ultimate Gothic folly, where he indulged in such homosexual indiscretions that he was finally exiled from England.

The Episodes of Vathek

This is a pre 1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.

The Vision

‘Beckford, well read in Eastern romance, caught the atmosphere with unusual receptivity.’ H.P. Lovecraft The Vision is a most unusual book by a most unusual young man. William Beckford 1760 1844 was about seventeen when he wrote this strange, surreal tale of mystic revelation. He may have written it to impress a tutor, the St. Petersburg born Alexander Cozens, who encouraged Beckford’s delvings into the weird and fantastic. Five years later, Beckford was to pen his Oriental romance VATHEK, which has made his name immortal. From his earliest years he had shown himself to be an amazing prodigy, writing and speaking French at age three, learning Latin and Greek by the time he was seven. He was also the richest commoner in Britain, who, in the course of his tour of the Continent to complete his education the tour during which The Vision was written moved in such state that he was mistaken for the Holy Roman emperor traveling incognito. He became, ultimately, one of the most spectacular and eccentric aesthetes of all time, and a great connoisseur of all that is rare and beautiful.

Vathek and Other Stories

Beckford’s Gothic novel, ‘Vathek’, an Arabian tale, was originally written in French when the author was twenty one. It is the story of Caliph Vathek, whose eye can kill at a glance, who makes a pact with the Devil, Eblis. This edition includes an introductory essay on William Beckford 1760 1844, encompassing the development of genre, the satirical mode, the Oriental tale, travel writing and diaries. The texts include ‘The Vision’, ‘Vathek’, selections from the ‘Biographical Memoirs’, ‘Azemia’, the ‘Journal of 1787’, plus travel writing and writing on dreams.

Modern Novel Writing

First published in 1796, Modern Novel Writing is a satirical attack on the sentimental and sensational novels of the day, as well as William Pitt the Younger, the war with France, repressive legislation, and government neglect of the poor. Edited with an introduction and notes by Robert Gemmett, professor of English at SUNY Brockport and an acknowledged expert on William Beckford, it is the first scholarly edition of this novel.

Dreams, Waking Thoughts and Incidents

August 4th. The heats were so excessive in the night, that I thought myself several times on the point of suffocation, tossed about like a wounded fish, and dreamt of the devil and Senegal. Towards sunrise, a faint breeze restored me to life and reason. I slumbered till late in the day, and the moment I was fairly awake, ordered my gondolier to row out to the main ocean, that I might plunge into its waves, and hear and see nothing but waters around me.

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