VATHEK (ePub)

William Beckford was an English novelist, art collector, and politician born in 1759 in London. His family was immensely wealthy, thanks to their involvement in plantations in Jamaica, which had made them one of the richest families in England. Beckford's father, who was also named William Beckford, was a successful merchant, magistrate, and twice Lord Mayor of London. Beckford was just three years old when his father became Lord Mayor of London and held lavish dinners, which undoubtedly influenced his son's imagination and his later work, including his most famous novel, "Vathek." This novel, written in French, was completed in just three days and two nights when Beckford was about 22 years old. His education was diverse and unconventional. He was tutored privately and received music lessons from the famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. His mother's friend, the Earl of Chatham, also advised her to keep the Arabian Nights out of his way, but Beckford was fascinated by the tales of the East and included them in his writing. William Beckford died on May 2, 1844, at the age of 84. The cause of his death was reportedly a stroke. He passed away at his home in Bath, England, where he had lived for many years. Beckford's legacy as a writer and collector continues to be celebrated to this day, with his works still read and his collections displayed in museums around the world.