The MonkThe Monk
Score Classic
What it's about
A Gothic novel published in 1796 that critics savaged for its supposed obscenity while readers bought it in huge numbers to see if it lived up to its reputation. Its author was a member of Parliament and only 20 years old.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It was a famous scandal in its day and is a landmark of Gothic fiction.
You'll love it if you liked
Frankenstein
Dracula
Uncle SilasGood to know
It's lurid and violent, even by modern standards.
By the numbers
- Readers57 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller24 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #251 of the 504 fantasy books we rank
- #543 of the 924 classics we rank
- #1720 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Epic
If you like this, read next
The Lord of the Rings
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Godfather
The Hobbit
The Pillars of the Earth
FoundationExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Monk worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #1,720 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 67.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Monk about?
A Gothic novel published in 1796 that critics savaged for its supposed obscenity while readers bought it in huge numbers to see if it lived up to its reputation. Its author was a member of Parliament and only 20 years old.
How long does it take to read The Monk?
About 11 hours (431 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Monk?
If you liked it, try Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Dracula by Bram Stoker or Uncle Silas by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu.