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William Thomas Beckford (1760-1844) was an English novelist, art critic, travel writer and politician. Having studied under Sir William Chambers and Alexander Cozens, he travelled to Italy in 1782 and promptly wrote a book on the subject: Dreams, Waking Thoughts, and Incidents; in a Series of Letters from Various Parts of Europe (1783). Shortly afterwards came his best-known work, the Gothic novel The History of the Caliph Vathek (1786), written originally in French and, as he was accustomed to boast, at a single sitting of three days and two nights. There is reason, however, to believe that this was a flight of imagination. It is an impressive work, full of fantastic and magnificent conceptions, rising occasionally to sublimity. His other principal writings are Memoirs of Extraordinary Painters (1780), a satirical work, and Letters from Italy with Sketches of Spain and Portugal (1835), full of brilliant descriptions of scenes and manners.
William Beckford was a youthful millionaire who first published 'Vathek' in late 18th century France. He was exiled from England for his outrageous behaviour whilst at the same time being considered by Byron and Lovecraft as a great Gothic writer.
"Vathek" from William Thomas Beckford. Known as William Beckford, was an English novelist (1760-1844).
"Dreams, Waking Thoughts and Incidents" is a series of letters composed by William Beckford as a result of a Grand Tour on the continent in 1780-81. From brief daily notes kept during this tour, Beckford composed, not simply a travel journal, but a composition which gave occasional glimpses into the inner thoughts and dreams of the author. Strangely, Beckford himself suppressed the book on its release, destroying almost 500 copies of the original print. A much modified and toned down version was finally released in 1834 incorporated in Italy; with "Sketches of Spain and Portugal". Robert Gemmett's edition in contrast is an almost verbatim copy of the original edition of 1783, and provides a compelling early glimpse into the mind of a man who was to become universally known in later life as the 'Fool of Fonthill'.
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William Thomas Beckford (29 September 1760 - 2 May 1844) was an English novelist, art collector, patron of decorative art, critic, travel writer, plantation owner and for some time politician. He was reputed at one stage to be England's richest commoner. The son of William Beckford and Maria Hamilton, daughter of the Hon. George Hamilton, he served as a Member of Parliament for Wells in 1784-1790 and Hindon in 1790-1795 and 1806-1820. Beckford is remembered for a Gothic novel, Vathek (1786); for building the lost Fonthill Abbey in Wiltshire and Lansdown Tower ("Beckford's Tower") in Bath; and for his art collection.
"Dreams - Waking Thoughts and Incidents" from William Thomas Beckford. Known as William Beckford, was an English novelist (1760-1844).
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