William Beckford

Vathek, ninth Caliph of the race of the Abassides, was the son of Motassem, and the grandson of Haroun Al Raschid.From an early accession to the throne, and the talents he possessed to adorn it, his subjects were induced to expect that his reign would...

Written in 1786, this Oriental fantasy tells the story of a dissolute and debauched Caliph, Vathek. Having become obsessed with power and immortality, Vathek embarks on a journey to obtain supernatural powers, in pursuit of which he proves willing to...