Vathek

William Beckford

synopsis

William Beckford was a novelist, travel writer, art critic and politician best known for his novel Vathek, a story with elaborate imagery, sardonic humour and an unforgettable gallery of grotesques, which describes a journey to the halls of Eblis, or Hell, in the pursuit of knowledge.
      This edition features a new introduction by noted historian and poet Donald Sidney-Fryer, a striking color dustjacket by British artist David Whitlam, and the complete line drawings by Mahlon Blaine.
       William Beckford (1760-1844) inherited a large fortune and, at the age of nineteen, went on a tour of Holland, Germany, Belgium, France and Italy. He was a Member of Parliament and a traveller who spent large sums of money collecting rare books, curiosities and paintings for the embellishment of his Gothic Extravaganza, Fonthill Abbey, where he lived in opulent seclusion until forced by bankruptcy to sell it in 1822.

edition information

  • Limited to 250 copies, each signed by Donald Sydney-Fryer and artist David Whitlam.
  • New introduction by Donald Sydney-Fryer.
  • The magificent line drawings by Mahlon Blaine.
  • Striking full-color, wraparound dustjacket.
  • Full cloth cover.
  • Ribbon marker, head and tail bands.
  • Original book price: $65.
  • Published February 2015.
  • ISBN 978-1-61347-102-9.

pricing

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