The History of Caliph Vathek

William Beckford's "The History of Caliph Vathek" is a rich tapestry of gothic horror interwoven with elements of fantasy and orientalism, published in 1786. The narrative follows the ambitious yet tragic figure of Vathek, a caliph whose insatiable thirst for knowledge and power leads him to sacrifice everything, culminating in a poignant exploration of moral decay within a phantasmagorical landsc...