🏚️ Gothic

Ambrosio: Or, the Monk. a Romance

✍️ Matthew Gregory Lewis
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$32.95
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A 1796 Gothic romance about a monk falling into evil temptation.

This novel presents a dramatic tale of moral failure within a religious order. Lewis crafts a narrative where the protagonist faces severe spiritual and physical trials. The story relies on the conventions of Gothic fiction to create tension. It examines the consequences of giving in to dark desires. The text provides insight into the literary tastes of the late 1700s. Scholars recognize its role in shaping the genre. The edition includes the full original text without modern alterations. It allows readers to experience the work as it was first received. The pacing builds through suspenseful events rather than rapid action. Characters navigate a world where supernatural elements influence daily life. The ending reflects the moral lessons intended by the author. This version ensures the story remains accessible to contemporary readers.

Key Themes
religious temptation moral decay Gothic romance
Literary Context

First published in 1796, this work is a classic example of the Gothic romance genre. Scholars consider it culturally important and part of the knowledge base of civilization. It remains in the public domain in the United States.

Difficulty
●●● Challenging
Recommended For Fans Of
Horace Walpole · Ann Radcliffe · Mary Shelley · The Castle of Otranto
🏚️
Gothic
🏛 Legare Street Press 📅 2023 🌐 English 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9781020247019

📝 Description: Ambrosio: Or, the Monk. a Romance

Matthew Gregory Lewis wrote Ambrosio: Or, the Monk. a Romance, first published in 1796. The narrative follows a Capuchin monk who succumbs to temptation and evil. This work stands as a classic example of the Gothic romance genre, filled with drama, mystery, and suspense. Scholars have selected this text for its cultural importance, viewing it as part of the knowledge base of civilization. The publisher, Legare Street Press, released this edition on July 18, 2023. The book is available in book format with ISBN 9781020247019. It appeals to readers interested in early Gothic fiction and historical romance traditions. Those seeking modern psychological horror may find the style distinct from contemporary works. The text remains relevant for its exploration of moral decay within a religious setting. Readers who appreciate classic literature will find value in this preserved work. The story offers a window into late eighteenth-century literary sensibilities. It does not cater to those preferring fast-paced action over atmospheric dread. The narrative structure supports the genre conventions of its time. This edition makes the text generally available to the public again. It preserves a significant piece of literary history for new audiences.

💎 Our verdict on Ambrosio: Or, the Monk. a Romance

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
This edition successfully preserves a significant piece of literary history, allowing modern readers to experience the full original text without alteration. The narrative effectively utilizes Gothic conventions to build tension through suspense rather than rapid action, creating an immersive atmosphere of moral failure and spiritual trial. While the style may feel distinct from contemporary psychological horror, it rewards patience with its dramatic exploration of dark desires within a religious order. It is best suited for readers who appreciate classic literature and wish to understand the foundations of the horror genre. The work stands as a compelling study of consequence and temptation, offering a rich, if dense, experience for those willing to engage with its historical context and thematic depth.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers with a deep interest in the roots of horror fiction and historical literary traditions will find this book essential for understanding the evolution of the genre. It offers a valuable window into late eighteenth-century sensibilities, particularly regarding moral decay and religious tension within a dramatic framework. Those who appreciate atmospheric dread over rapid action will engage with its suspenseful pacing and complex character navigation of supernatural influences. Scholars and enthusiasts of early Gothic romance will gain insight into the cultural importance of this text, which remains a critical piece of literary history preserved for contemporary audiences seeking authentic historical perspectives on fear and temptation.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4
Based on 1 reviews
5
0
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
H
Horror Reads editorial team

This edition successfully preserves a significant piece of literary history, allowing modern readers to experience the full original text without alteration. The narrative effectively utilizes Gothic conventions to build tension through suspense rather than rapid action, creating an immersive atmosphere of moral failure and spiritual trial. While the style may feel distinct from contemporary psychological horror, it rewards patience with its dramatic exploration of dark desires within a religious order. It is best suited for readers who appreciate classic literature and wish to understand the foundations of the horror genre. The work stands as a compelling study of consequence and temptation, offering a rich, if dense, experience for those willing to engage with its historical context and thematic depth.

✍️ More books by this author Matthew Gregory Lewis

The Monk: A Romance - The Annotated Edition of the Most Scandalous Gothic Novel of Its Age
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Matthew Gregory Lewis
The Monk: A Romance - The Annotated Edition of the Most Scandalous Gothic Novel of Its Age
$20.99
81
Read →
The Monk: A Romance
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Matthew Gregory Lewis
The Monk: A Romance
$29.99
86
Read →
Romantic Tales; Volume 2
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Matthew Gregory Lewis
Romantic Tales; Volume 2
$24.95
78
Read →
Romantic Tales; Volume 2
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Matthew Gregory Lewis
Romantic Tales; Volume 2
$36.95
78
Read →
Ambrosio: Or, the Monk. a Romance
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Matthew Gregory Lewis
Ambrosio: Or, the Monk. a Romance
$20.95
81
Read →
The Monk: Annotated Edition
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Matthew Gregory Lewis
The Monk: Annotated Edition
$11.00
78
Read →

🏛 Books from this publisher Legare Street Press

The Works of Edgar Allan Poe; Volume 2
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Edgar Allan Poe
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe; Volume 2
$33.95
78
Read →
Edgar Huntly, or Memoirs of a Sleep-walker
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Charles Brockden Brown
Edgar Huntly, or Memoirs of a Sleep-walker
$33.95
81
Read →
The Hound of the Baskervilles: Another Adventure of Sherlock Holmes
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Arthur Conan Doyle
The Hound of the Baskervilles: Another Adventure of Sherlock Holmes
$33.95
86
Read →
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe; Volume 4
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Edgar Allan Poe
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe; Volume 4
$43.95
86
Read →
The Jolly Corner
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Henry James
The Jolly Corner
$29.95
81
Read →

You might also like

See more →
Ambrosio: Or, the Monk. a Romance
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
1
Matthew Gregory Lewis
Ambrosio: Or, the Monk. a Romance
$20.95
81
Read →
The Monk
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Matthew Gregory Lewis
The Monk
$14.00
86
Read →
Vathek [by W. Beckford. In Fr.].
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
William Beckford
Vathek [by W. Beckford. In Fr.].
$32.95
86
Read →
Three John Silence Stories
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Algernon Blackwood
Three John Silence Stories
$32.95
86
Read →
The Tale of Terror: A Study of the Gothic Fiction
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Edith Birkhead
The Tale of Terror: A Study of the Gothic Fiction
$32.95
86
Read →
The Hound of the Baskervilles: Another Adventure of Sherlock Holmes
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Arthur Conan Doyle
The Hound of the Baskervilles: Another Adventure of Sherlock Holmes
$33.95
86
Read →

Have a question about this item?

Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.

Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist