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What is the first horror novel?

Dear Mountie

What is the first horror novel?

Ed

Dear Ed

Matthew Lewis’ (1775 - 1818 ) The Monk, is widely considered being the first Horror Novel. Written in his teenage years, it caused notoriety when published in 1796.

It has everything a Gothic Horror might require: lust, a Faustian pact with the devil, magic, hidden identity, incest, cruelty, murder, drugs, religious hypocrisy.

“Dreams, magic terrors, spells of mighty power, Witches, and ghosts who rove at midnight hour.”

Lewis abandoned his literary career when he inherited his family’s West Indian sugar plantations.

Yours Truly

Mr Mountie

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