Pre-Order The Monk – The Most Forbidden Book You've Never Read
A resurrection of the most forbidden novel in gothic literature.
First banned in 1796, whispered about for centuries—
The Monk by Matthew Lewis returns in a bold, cinematic edition from Ink in Blood.
This is not just a book. It’s an artifact. A mirror. A curse.
About the Author
Matthew Gregory Lewis (1775–1818) was a scandal, a prodigy, and a ghost in literary history. At just 19, he wrote The Monk, a novel so blasphemous, erotic, and drenched in horror that it shook 18th-century England to its core. Critics called it “a profanation of religion” — readers couldn’t put it down.
Nicknamed “Monk” Lewis for life, he haunted the salons of London and the supernatural imaginations of the Romantics, including Byron and Shelley. By day, he was a politician and playwright; by night, he conjured demons, bleeding nuns, and cursed monasteries.
He died at sea at age 42, returning from Jamaica — but his infamous novel has never truly sunk.
About the Book
This is no ordinary book. It is a relic — a collector’s artifact forged in obsession.
Trim Size: A5 (148 x 210 mm)
Binding: Casebound hardcover, designed to last centuries
Lamination: Smooth matte finish for a velvet touch
Paper: 115gsm coated stock, ideal for crisp text and deep illustrations
Illustrated: Includes haunting, cinematic artwork
Extras:
Satin ribbon marker
Custom head & tail bands
Designed endpapers
Gold foiling on the front, spine, and back of the case
Exclusive bookcase-style slip design
Sprayed edges, black as sin
This edition of The Monk is meant to be felt as much as read — a gothic artifact, resurrected with care.
What's inside
A new prologue exploring the scandalous history of The Monk
Over 20 original illustrations in ultra-realistic gothic style
Annotation fragments revealing hidden meanings, forgotten lore, and 18th-century secrets
A meticulously designed reading experience—crafted like a cinematic descent into madness
The Collector’s Lineage
This is part of Ink in Blood’s inaugural Collector’s Drop I
Numbered, never reprinted in this form
Future editions may follow—but none will match the intimacy of the first.Who Is This For?
Lovers of gothic fiction, dark romance, religious horror, and forbidden desire.
Fans of Carmilla, Frankenstein, The Picture of Dorian Gray, or Melmoth the Wanderer.
Perfect for collectors, readers of the uncanny, and the romantically damned.
