Series Volumes of Haunted Library of Horror Classics:
The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux (2020)
The Beetle by Richard Marsh (2020)
Vathek by William Beckford (2020)
The House on the Borderland by William Hope Hodgson (2020)
The Parasite and Other Tales of Terror by Arthur Conan Doyle (2021)
The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers (2021)
…and more forthcoming
First published in 1786 as An Arabian Tale, from an Unpublished Manuscript
Copyright © 2020 by Horror Writers Association
Introduction © 2020 by Joe R. Lansdale
Additional supplemental material © 2020 by Eric J. Guignard and Leslie S. Klinger
Cover and internal design © 2020 by Sourcebooks
Cover design and illustration by Jeffrey Nguyen
Sourcebooks, Poisoned Pen Press, and the colophon are registered trademarks of Sourcebooks.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing from its publisher, Sourcebooks.
Originally published as Vathek © William Beckford, 1816. Translated from French by Samuel Henley.
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
Published by Poisoned Pen Press, an imprint of Sourcebooks
P.O. Box 4410, Naperville, Illinois 60567-4410
(630) 961-3900
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Originally published as An Arabian Tale, from an Unpublished Manuscript in 1786. First published as Vathek in 1816. This edition issued based on the third edition, revised and corrected, published in 1816 in England by W. Clarke.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Beckford, William, author. | Lansdale, Joe R., writer of introduction. Title: Vathek / William Beckford ; with an introduction by Joe R. Lansdale. Other titles: Vathek. English
Description: Naperville, IL : Poisoned Pen Press, [2020] | Series: Haunted library of horror classics | “Originally published as An Arabian Tale, from an unpublished manuscript in 1786. This edition is based on the third edition, revised and corrected, published as Vathek in 1816 in England by W. Clarke, London.”
Identifiers: LCCN 2019059642 | (trade paperback)
Subjects: GSAFD: Gothic fiction. | Horror fiction.
Classification: LCC PQ1957.B29 V313 2020 | DDC 843/.5--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019059642
Contents
Front Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Introduction
Vathek
Notes
About the Author
Suggested Discussion Questions for Classroom Use
Suggested Further Reading of Fiction
About the Series Editors
Back Cover
This edition of Vathek is presented by the Horror Writers Association, a nonprofit organization of writers and publishing professionals around the world, dedicated to promoting dark literature and the interests of those who write it.
For more information on HWA, visit: horror.org.
Introduction
Vathek is one peculiar novel, and so was its author, William Beckford. According to a recent edition of the book, his bio states he was born in 1759, son of an Alderman who was the Lord Mayor of London, twice.
In short, he was born into money. Enough money he was able to have a fine education, and was even taught music by Mozart, although I’m uncertain of the caliber of Beckford’s musical skills.
He was well-traveled, well-educated, and perhaps totally decadent, accused of all manner of sexual debauchery with both women and men, and possibly young boys. He is noted for giving a lavish Christmas party where a dwarf answered the door, and food was in abundance and wine flowed as free as a downhill stream. The party is said to have taken place under an elaborate light show of some sort, and considering this occurred in the sixteenth century, the expense must have been enormous. It seems this elaborate party was one of the later influences for Vathek. For if there is one thing this short novel has is what that party had: Excess, a display of wealth, which in its strictest sense is representative of power, the obvious theme of Vathek.
Vathek is white-hot crazy, and considering, at least according to Beckford, it was written nonstop in French over three days and two nights, this is not surprising. It seems Beckford was trying to put a deep-sleep nightmare, or a waking dream, onto paper. A dream that feels like an episode from The Arabian Nights with a gothic nightmare inside of it.
The hero of Vathek, one Caliph Vathek, who has the evil eye, as well as some rather hedonistic desires, denounces Islam and, with assistance from his mother, sets out to obtain great supernatural powers and everlasting life. All of this, of course, involves a Satanic pact, as well as a travelogue of dark exploration, culminating in what might be described as an examination of the lower regions of Hell.
From one bizarre moment to the next, this novel taps into all those little hidden areas that our personalities guard or fear. It allows us to tour places most of us wouldn’t want to go, but don’t mind seeing through a kind of literary glass, like visiting an aquarium and observing a shark enjoy chunks of bleeding meat at mealtime.
Vathek can be rambling, uncertain of intent, and it has moments when its author seems to be overcome by the pure energy of the writing. It is humorous for a while, then less so, and finally so strange it nears running off the rails and tumbling into an abyss. But there is seldom a moment when it isn’t compelling. Even its failures are grand and stimulating, like watching a boxer who is knocked down repeatedly, continue to rise from the mat and keep on swinging.
To suggest this novel has not aged would be disingenuous, for it has, both in style and in social mores. In fact, its impact on earlier writers and their works outweighs the actual weight of the novel for the casual modern reader, but this steamy window into a historically important exercise in writing mania is significant to the fields of gothic and horror writing, as well as what was once referred to as Orientalism.
There is absolutely nothing like it.
Joe R. Lansdale
April 7, 2019
Nacogdoches, Texas
Vathek
VATHEK, ninth Caliph1 of the race of the Abassides, was the son of Motassem, and the grandson of Haroun al Raschid. From an early accession to the throne, and the talents he possessed to adorn it, his subjects were induced to expect that his reign would be long and happy. His figure was pleasing and majestic; but when he was angry, one of his eyes became so terrible2, that no person could bear to behold it; and the wretch upon whom it was fixed, instantly fell backward, and sometimes expired. For fear, however, of depopulating his dominions and making his palace desolate, he but rarely gave way to his anger.
Being much addicted to women and the pleasures of the table, he sought by his affability, to procure agreeable companions; and he succeeded the better as his generosity was unbounded and his indulgencies unrestrained: for he did not think, with the Caliph Omar Ben Abdalaziz3 that it was necessary to make a hell of this world to enjoy paradise in the next.
He surpassed in magnificence all his predecessors. The palace of Alkoremi, which his father, Motassem, had erected on the hill of Pied Horses, and which commanded the whole city of Samarah
4, was, in his idea far too scanty: he added, therefore, five wings, or rather other palaces, which he destined for the particular gratification of each of the senses.
In the first of these were tables continually covered with the most exquisite dainties; which were supplied both by night and by day, according to their constant consumption; whilst the most delicious wines and the choicest cordials flowed forth from a hundred fountains that were never exhausted. This palace was called The Eternal or Unsatiating Banquet.
The second was styled, The Temple of Melody, or The Nectar of the Soul. It was inhabited by the most skilful musicians and admired poets of the time; who not only displayed their talents within, but dispersing in bands without, caused every surrounding scene to reverberate their songs; which were continually varied in the most delightful succession5.
The palace named The Delight of the Eyes, or The Support of Memory, was one entire enchantment. Rarities, collected from every corner of the earth were there found in such profusion as to dazzle and confound, but for the order in which they were arranged. One gallery exhibited the pictures of the celebrated Mani6, and statues, that seemed to be alive. Here a well-managed perspective attracted the sight; there the magic of optics agreeably deceived it: whilst the naturalist on his part, exhibited in their several classes the various gifts that Heaven had bestowed on our globe. In a word, Vathek omitted nothing in this palace, that might gratify the curiosity of those who resorted to it, although he was not able to satisfy his own; for, of all men, he was the most curious.
The Palace of Perfumes, which was termed likewise The Incentive to Pleasure, consisted of various halls, where the different perfumes which the earth produces were kept perpetually burning in censers of gold. Flambeaux and aromatic lamps were here lighted in open day. But the too powerful effects of this agreeable delirium might be alleviated by descending into an immense garden, where an assemblage of every fragrant flower diffused through the air the purest odours.
The fifth palace, denominated The Retreat of Mirth, or the Dangerous, was frequented by troops of young females beautiful as the Houris7, and not less seducing; who never failed to receive with caresses, all whom the Caliph allowed to approach them, and enjoy a few hours of their company.
Notwithstanding the sensuality in which Vathek indulged, he experienced no abatement in the love of his people, who thought that a sovereign giving himself up to pleasure, was as able to govern, as one who declared himself an enemy to it. But the unquiet and impetuous disposition of the Caliph would not allow him to rest there. He had studied so much for his amusement in the life-time of his father, as to acquire a great deal of knowledge, though not a sufficiency to satisfy himself; for he wished to know every thing; even sciences that did not exist. He was fond of engaging in disputes with the learned, but did not allow them to push their opposition with warmth. He stopped with presents the mouths of those whose mouths could be stopped; whilst others, whom his liberality was unable to subdue, he sent to prison to cool their blood; a remedy that often succeeded.
Vathek discovered also a predilection for theological controversy; but it was not with the orthodox that he usually held. By this means he induced the zealots to oppose him, and then persecuted them in return; for he resolved, at any rate, to have reason on his side.
The great prophet, Mahomet, whose vicars the caliphs are, beheld with indignation from his abode in the seventh heaven8, the irreligious conduct of such a vicegerent. “Let us leave him to himself,” said he to the Genii9, who are always ready to receive his commands: “let us see to what lengths his folly and impiety will carry him: if he run into excess, we shall know how to chastise him. Assist him, therefore, to complete the tower10, which, in imitation of Nimrod, he hath begun; not, like that great warrior, to escape being drowned, but from the insolent curiosity of penetrating the secrets of heaven:—he will not divine the fate that awaits him.”
The Genii obeyed; and, when the workmen had raised their structure a cubit* in the day time, two cubits more were added in the night. The expedition, with which the fabric arose, was not a little flattering to the vanity of Vathek: he fancied, that even insensible matter shewed a forwardness to subserve his designs; not considering, that the successes of the foolish and wicked form the first rod of their chastisement.
His pride arrived at its height, when having ascended, for the first time, the fifteen hundred stairs of his tower, he cast his eyes below, and beheld men not larger than pismires;** mountains, than shells; and cities, than bee-hives. The idea, which such an elevation inspired of his own grandeur, completely bewildered him: he was almost ready to adore himself; till, lifting his eyes upward, he saw the stars as high above him as they appeared when he stood on the surface of the earth. He consoled himself, however, for this intruding and unwelcome perception of his littleness, with the thought of being great in the eyes of others; and flattered himself that the light of his mind would extend beyond the reach of his sight, and extort from the stars the decrees of his destiny.
With this view, the inquisitive Prince passed most of his nights on the summit of his tower, till becoming an adept in the mysteries of astrology, he imagined that the planets had disclosed to him the most marvellous adventures, which were to be accomplished by an extraordinary personage, from a country altogether unknown. Prompted by motives of curiosity, he had always been courteous to strangers; but, from this instant, he redoubled his attention, and ordered it to be announced, by sound of trumpet through all the streets of Samarah, that no one of his subjects, on peril of his displeasure, should either lodge or detain a traveller, but forthwith bring him to the palace.
Not long after this proclamation, arrived in his metropolis a man so abominably hideous that the very guards, who arrested him, were forced to shut their eyes, as they led him along: the Caliph himself appeared startled at so horrible a visage; but joy succeeded to this emotion of terror, when the stranger displayed to his view such rarities11 as he had never before seen, and of which he had no conception.
In reality, nothing was ever so extraordinary as the merchandize this stranger produced: most of his curiosities, which were not less admirable for their workmanship than splendour, had, besides, their several virtues described on a parchment fastened to each. There were slippers, which, by spontaneous springs, enabled the feet to walk; knives, that cut without motion of the hand; sabres, that dealt the blow at the person they were wished to strike; and the whole enriched with gems, that were hitherto unknown.
The sabres, especially, the blades of which, emitted a dazzling radiance, fixed, more than all the rest, the Caliph’s attention; who promised himself to decipher, at his leisure, the uncouth characters engraven on their sides. Without, therefore, demanding their price, he ordered all the coined gold to be brought from his treasury, and commanded the merchant to take what he pleased. The stranger obeyed, took little, and remained silent.
Vathek, imagining that the merchant’s taciturnity was occasioned by the awe which his presence inspired, encouraged him to advance; and asked him, with an air of condescension, who he was? whence he came? and where he obtained such beautiful commodities? The man, or rather monster, instead of making a reply, thrice rubbed his forehead, which, as well as his body, was blacker than ebony; four times clapped his paunch, the projection of which was enormous; opened wide his huge eyes, which glowed like firebrands; began to laugh with a hideous noise, and discovered his long amber-coloured teeth, bestreaked with green.
The Caliph, though a little startled, renewed his inquiries, but without being able to procure a reply. At which, beginning to be ruffled, he exclaimed:—“Knowest thou, wretch, who I am, and at whom thou art aiming thy gibes?”—Then, addressing his guards, “Have ye heard him speak? is he dumb?”—“He hath spoken,” they replied, “but to no purpose.” “Let him speak then again,” said Vathek, “and tell me who he is, from whence he came, and where he procured these singular curiosities; or I swear, by the ass
of Balaam,*** that I will make him rue his pertinacity.”
This menace was accompanied by one of the Caliph’s angry and perilous glances, which the stranger sustained without the slightest emotion; although his eyes were fixed on the terrible eye of the Prince.
No words can describe the amazement of the courtiers, when they beheld this rude merchant withstand the encounter unshocked. They all fell prostrate with their faces on the ground, to avoid the risk of their lives; and would have continued in the same abject posture, had not the Caliph exclaimed in a furious tone—“Up, cowards! seize the miscreant! see that he be committed to prison, and guarded by the best of my soldiers! Let him, however, retain the money I gave him; it is not my intent to take from him his property; I only want him to speak.”
No sooner had he uttered these words, than the stranger was surrounded, pinioned and bound with strong fetters, and hurried away to the prison of the great tower; which was encompassed by seven empalements of iron bars, and armed with spikes in every direction, longer and sharper than spits. The Caliph, nevertheless, remained in the most violent agitation. He sat down indeed to eat; but, of the three hundred dishes that were daily placed before him, he could taste of no more than thirty-two.
A diet, to which he had been so little accustomed, was sufficient of itself to prevent him from sleeping; what then must be its effect when joined to the anxiety that preyed upon his spirits? At the first glimpse of dawn he hastened to the prison, again to importune this intractable stranger; but the rage of Vathek exceeded all bouuds on finding the prison empty; the grates burst asunder, and his guards lying lifeless around him. In the paroxism of his passion he fell furiously on the poor carcasses, and kicked them till evening without intermission. His courtiers and vizirs exerted their efforts to soothe his extravagance; but, finding every expedient ineffectual, they all united in one vociferation—“The Caliph is gone mad! the Caliph is out of his senses!”
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