Vathek

I read this in mere hours. Someone who reads faster could do it in two, most likely. Oh, how I loved this book when I was 17 in honors lit at a little Southern Baptist college in Hannibal, MO. It was shocking for some people in class, and certainly was to Beckford's own contemporaries. But it's such a fun little tale of a sleazy, debauched vizier gone horribly awry because of temptations from a demon. It's such good fun, and it's actually quite funny. And Vathek, our titular character, has a fantastic mother who is quite possibly the best character in the book, even though she's awful. Yes, yes, many years later, this book is still wonderful, and I love it so.