LEWIS, Matthew Gregory (Lewis Matthew Gregory)

(1775-1818)
Born July 9, 1775 in London. He studied at Westminster School and Christ Church College, Oxford University; in 16 years a lot of writing. Knew German culture in Weimar in 1792, became acquainted with JW Goethe. In 1794, as attache of the British Embassy in The Hague, Lewis for two and a half months, wrote his famous monk. The novel was published in 1795, after which the author became widely known as Monk Lewis.
The book is based lay article published in The Guardian '(? 148), but the direct impetus for her writing the novel gave A. Radcliffe Udolfskie secrets (1794). Monk - horror novel. He tells about Capuchin Ambrosio, who are prone to debauchery Matilda, pretending to be a young novice. Capuchin ruining virtuous girl, it is found and sent to the court of the Inquisition. To escape, he sells his soul to the devil, but he cheated and he dies.

Returning to England, Lewis from 1796 to 1802 was a member of the House of Commons. He wrote several plays, the most successful of these was the tragedy of Ghost Castle (The Castle Spectre), which in 1798 put the theater 'Drury Lane' led by RB Sheridan. In the same year, Lewis made the acquaintance with B. Scott. Scott linked the appearance of his ballads Glenfinlas, Ivanov evening, Gray's brother with the influence of fairy tale (Tales of Wonder) by Lewis, then he has repeatedly made it clear how indebted to Lewis. During his travels, Lewis met with Dzh.G.Bayronom, visited the West Indies, where his vast patrimony. Lewis died of yellow fever on a ship en route from the West Indies in England, May 14, 1818.