Melmoth the Wanderer
By Charles Maturin
Genres : Gothic, Horror, Classics, 2021-read,awesome.
Rating 5/5
Absolutely loved this! Gothic and horror at its epitome and best! While reading this, I wondered if such souls like Melmoth don't really exist? My conscience and gut feeling tells me there might be some like him wandering trying to fulfill the wishes of the devil just like we have saints trying to convert men to good for the will of God.
So Melmoth is a man who made a pact with the devil - sold his soul - to quench his curiosity in the black arts and is thus condemned to walk this wold alone..in search of another person who might take over his pact thereby liberating him from it. He approaches many a bereaved and extremely desolate soul in its stages of utter hopelessness offering this deal in exchange for a reversal of their circumstances and those stories are told in succession. They all reject his offer. He falls desperately in love with an innocent girl Imaale who becomes devoted to him without concern for who he really is. She willingly offers herself to him but as circumstances would have it, they get separated never to see each other and Melmoth resumes his search afresh.
At the end, as the devil is wont to do, Melmoth is dragged to his destiny of endless suffering in the most heinous and heartless manner. I can't say this is an amazing read because the subject pertains to good and evil but it is so engrossing..I couldn't quit reading it. I loved the ambience of the ancient England Spain and all those places Melmoth wandered..along with the reader (me)! I totally fell in love with the love story of Imalee and Melmoth..the innocent and complete devotion she had for a person accustomed to inflicting pain and suffering broke my heart at times. But nevertheless, he turned out to be a kind warrior for her..till the time of their parting..atleast.
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