August Classic: Vathek - William Beckfords

New members are always welcome.:) **Description:** ***Vathek*** (alternatively titled ***Vathek, an Arabian Tale*** or ***The History of the Caliph Vathek***) is a [Gothic novel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_novel "Gothic novel") written by [William Beckford](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Beckford_(novelist) "William Beckford (novelist)"). It was composed in French beginning in 1782, and then translated into English by Reverend [Samuel Henley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Henley "Samuel Henley") in which form it was first published in 1786 without Beckford's name as *An Arabian Tale, From an Unpublished Manuscript*, claiming to be translated directly from Arabic. The first French edition, titled simply as *Vathek*, was published in December 1786 (postdated 1787). During the twentieth century some editions include *The Episodes of Vathek* (*Vathek et ses épisodes*), three related tales intended by Beckford to be so incorporated, but omitted from the original edition and published separately long after his death.