Author. He was nicknamed "Monk" Lewis after the success of his famous Gothic novel, "The Monk" (1796). Set in Spain, it tells the tale of the saintly Brother Ambrosio, who is seduced into debauchery and crime by the devil disguised as a beautiful woman. Condemned by the Inquisition, Ambrosio sells his soul to Satan in exchange for his freedom; the devil keeps his part of the bargain by depositing the monk in a barren desert. Ambrosio finally repents and an angry Satan destroys him. The lurid combination of sex and religion in "The Monk" led some critics to charge blasphemy, and Lewis toned down the book in subsequent editions. Lewis was born in London. His plays, among them "The Castle Spectre" (1797), were very popular in their day, and his poetry influenced the early work of his friend Sir Walter Scott. He was also one of the first to translate the German poet Johann von Goethe into English. In 1812 Lewis inherited a plantation in Jamaica and spent several years trying to alleviate the condition of the slaves there. The experience ruined his health and his posthumously published journals revealed that his efforts were largely futile. He died on a voyage home to England and was buried at sea.
Author. He was nicknamed "Monk" Lewis after the success of his famous Gothic novel, "The Monk" (1796). Set in Spain, it tells the tale of the saintly Brother Ambrosio, who is seduced into debauchery and crime by the devil disguised as a beautiful woman. Condemned by the Inquisition, Ambrosio sells his soul to Satan in exchange for his freedom; the devil keeps his part of the bargain by depositing the monk in a barren desert. Ambrosio finally repents and an angry Satan destroys him. The lurid combination of sex and religion in "The Monk" led some critics to charge blasphemy, and Lewis toned down the book in subsequent editions. Lewis was born in London. His plays, among them "The Castle Spectre" (1797), were very popular in their day, and his poetry influenced the early work of his friend Sir Walter Scott. He was also one of the first to translate the German poet Johann von Goethe into English. In 1812 Lewis inherited a plantation in Jamaica and spent several years trying to alleviate the condition of the slaves there. The experience ruined his health and his posthumously published journals revealed that his efforts were largely futile. He died on a voyage home to England and was buried at sea.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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