Matthew Gregory Lewis' The Monk is a Gothic novel that, upon its publication in 1796, caused such a ruckus that it made the scandals of 18th-century high society look like polite tea parties. Picture this: a book that combines lust, murder, and demonic pacts, all wrapped up in the not-so-holy setting of a monastery - monks behaving … Continue reading The Monstrous Monk: Lewis’ Controversial Masterpiece
Month: June 2024
The Moon and Sixpence: A Dance with the Devil of Artistry
When I first encountered the works of W. Somerset Maugham, I was not yet in my teens. My initial foray into his literary world was through Of Human Bondage, and I was immediately captivated. However, it was The Moon and Sixpence that truly ensnared my imagination. The allure of this novel lay not only in … Continue reading The Moon and Sixpence: A Dance with the Devil of Artistry
A Beating Heart and a Babbling Fool: The Tell-tale Heart
While there isn't a single confirmed real-life story that directly inspired The Tell-Tale Heart, it's likely that a combination of contemporary crime stories, specific cases like that of James Wood, Poe's personal experiences, and the broader influence of Gothic literature all contributed to the creation of this iconic tale. Poe's genius lay in his ability … Continue reading A Beating Heart and a Babbling Fool: The Tell-tale Heart
Ethan Frome
Ethan Frome, a novella by Edith Wharton, written in 1911, offers a veritable banquet of desolation, seasoned with a dash of New England frigidity and garnished with just a sprig of hope, promptly withered. It’s the literary equivalent of being snowed in with nothing but biscuits and existential dread. And yet, within its chilling confines, … Continue reading Ethan Frome
The Faerie Queene: Spenser’s Monumental Folly
A Noble Attempt at Epic Poetry Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene is often hailed as a masterpiece of English literature, a colossal achievement in epic poetry. Yet, it is also a work that, like an overstuffed burrito, contains more than one can digest in a single sitting. Spenser's ambitious narrative attempts to blend allegory, chivalric … Continue reading The Faerie Queene: Spenser’s Monumental Folly
Wording 