The idea of writing The Monk is already in Lewis’s mind. In 1792 he mentions in a letter to his mother that he is writing a novel following the example of Horace Walpole (The Castle of Otranto,1764). He goes on with his work once in Holland
The novel is first published in 1795, with a second edition in March 1796. At first welcomed (= ben accettata) with positive reviews (= recensioni), after Lewis gets a seat (= ottenne un posto) in the Parliament, the novel is attacked for blasphemy and obscenity.
The novel deals indeed ( tratta veramente) with topics (= tematiche ) like sex and violence but to show the brutality of a very dark period of the Roman Catholic Church, the Inquisition (beginning of the 17th century). Besides, it also reveals a darker side of the author’s feeling and the monk of the title character is both a criminal and a victim.
However, the criticism only served to arise (= aumentare) curiosity in the reader. As one of Lewis’s modern biographer writes, the public “had been told that the book was horrible, blasphemous and lewd (= volgare), and they rushed (= corsero) to put their morality to the test (= per metter a prova la loro moralità).”
Set in a monastery in Spain, the story is about Monk Ambrosio, the protagonist named in the title, pious and respected till he discovers that one of his fellows monk (= compagni monaci) is a female in disguise (= donna travestita), Matilda. Attracted by her, he falls (= cade) in temptation. From that moment on, he becomes a terrible corruptor, capable of the most scandalous crimes.
Meanwhile (= nel frattempo) the narrator follows the adventures of the young Marquis de las Cisternas who rescues (= salva) a baroness from some bandits, and accompanies her to Germany
The third story is about Lorenzo de Medina, brother of Agnes who falls in love with a girl from Murcia , Antonia, come to Madrid
The book offers many gothic themes – murder, rape (= violenza carnale) , incarcerations, villains – and supernatural elements, but they are basically means to show the true horrors of the Church. Some parts of the book are quite shocking and disturbing to read even now (= anche oggigiorno), like the cold brutality of the Abbess against the ones who transgress her laws. You can see the fictional events (= avventure immaginarie) of the novel coloured by the anger as similar events really occurred in the Church’s history.