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A lesser known classic that I was very pleased to see included in
the Penguin English Library series (a wonderful series of classic books with
pretty new covers that include a few underappreciated gems). Written by Charles
Maturin, and published in 1820, this is a dark, violent novel. The eponymous Melmoth
wanders the Earth, preying on people in their darkest moments, trying to
convince them to exchange places with him after having made a pact with the
devil to extend his life for 150 years. As you can imagine, it’s not the most
cheerful of books. In fact, it’s pretty relentlessly depressing, and genuinely
harrowing in parts.
It can be a little hard to follow the narrative as there are lots of
stories within stories, and I often found myself slightly disoriented when a
new set of characters were introduced. However, once you settle in to the story
you find yourself drawn in to the world of Melmoth. The writing is incredible, poetic and evocative in equal measure.
There’s a fair amount of satire embedded in the narrative, and some
allusion-heavy passages, which were quite amusing (well, the ones I understood
anyway!). I don’t think it’s a massive
block to the enjoyment of the novel if you don’t get all the references though.
Maturin doesn’t hide his views on social and religious issues of the time, and
it makes for an interesting take on the early nineteenth century.
This is a beautifully written book, but, at
just under seven hundred pages, and a reasonably confusing narrative style,
this isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea. It is, I think, worth the time
and effort, and I can honestly say that I felt I wanted to re-read it as soon
as I’d reached the end of the final page. If you like Gothic fiction and
haven’t read this yet, do.
Pick up a copy:
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