内容简介
ThePenguinEnglishLibraryEditionofMelmoththeWandererbyCharlesMaturin'Myhouriscome...theclockofeternityisabouttostrike,butitsknellmustbeunheardbymortalears!'Thisviolent,profound,baroqueandblacklyhumorousnovelisthestoryofMelmoth,whohassoldhissoulinexchangeforimmortalityinasatanicbargain,andnowpreysonthehelplessintheirdarkestmoments,offeringtoeasetheirsufferingiftheywilltakehisplaceandreleasehimfromhiscenturiesoftorturedwanderings.MelmoththeWanderer(1820)blendedGothicfictionandpsychologicalrealismtocreateaworkofhallucinatorypower.ThePenguinEnglishLibrary-100editionsofthebestfictioninEnglish,fromtheeighteenthcenturyandtheveryfirstnovelstothebeginningoftheFirstWorldWar.
作者简介
CharlesRobertMaturin(1782-1824)wasborninDublinandeducatedatTrinityCollege,goingontobecomeaclergymanandwriterofGothicnovelsandplays.Atfirstafailure,hisworkwasnonethelessnoticedbySirWalterScottandLordByron,whichledtothestagingandsuccessofhistragedyBertram.(SamuelTaylorColeridge,ontheotherhand,dismisseditas'melancholyproofofthedepravationofthepublicmind'.)Hislaterplaysandfiction,includingMelmoththeWanderer,wereneglectedandMaturindiedinpoverty.Thework'sbrilliancewasrecognisedposthumously,anditnowenduresasoneofthemostfamousgothicnovelsinEnglishliterature.