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THE HISTORY OF THE CALIPH VATHEK
THE HISTORY OF THE
CALIPH VATHEK
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THE HISTORY OF THE CALIPH VATHEK
INTRODUCTION
William Beckford； born in 1759； the year before the accession of King
George the Third； was the son of an Alderman who became twice Lord
Mayor of London。 His family； originally of Gloucestershire； had thriven
by the plantations in Jamaica； and his father； sent to school in England；
and forming a school friendship at Westminster with Lord Mansfield；
began the world in this country as a merchant； with inheritance of an
enormous West India fortune。 William Beckford the elder became
Magistrate； Member of Parliament； Alderman。 Four years before the
birth of William Beckford the younger he became one of the Sheriffs of
London； and three years after his son's birth he was Lord Mayor。 As
Mayor he gave very sumptuous dinners that made epochs in the lives of
feeding men。 His son's famous 〃History of the Caliph Vathek〃 looks as if it
had been planned for an Alderman's dream after a very heavy dinner at the
Mansion House。 There is devotion in it to the senses； emphasis on heavy
dining。 Vathek piqued himself on being the greatest eater alive； but when
the Indian dined with him； though the tables were thirty times covered；
there was still want of more food for the voracious guest。 There is thirst：
for at one part of the dream； when Vathek's mother； his wives； and some
eunuchs 〃assiduously employed themselves in filling bowls of rock crystal；
and emulously presented them to him； it frequently happened that his
avidity exceeded their zeal； insomuch that he would prostrate himself
upon the ground to lap up the water； of which he could never have
enough。〃 And the nightmare incidents of the Arabian tale all culminate
in a most terrible heartburn。 Could the conception of Vathek have first
come to the son after a City dinner？
Though a magnificent host； the elder Beckford was no glutton。 In the
year of his first Mayoralty； 1763； Beckford； stood by the side of Alderman
Wilkes； attacked for his No。 45 of The North Briton。 As champion of the
popular cause； when he had been again elected to the Mayoralty； Beckford；
on the 23rd of May； 1770； went up to King George the Third at the head of
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THE HISTORY OF THE CALIPH VATHEK
the Aldermen and Livery with an address which the king snubbed with a
short answer。 Beckford asked leave to reply； and before His Majesty
recovered breath from his astonishment； proceeded to reply in words that
remain graven in gold upon his monument in Guildhall。 Young Beckford；
the author of 〃Vathek；〃 was then a boy not quite eleven years old； an only
son； and he was left three years afterwards； by his father's death； heir to an
income of a hundred thousand a year； with a million of cash in hand。
During his minority young Beckford's mother； who was a
granddaughter of the sixth Earl of Abercorn； placed him under a private
tutor。 He was taught music by Mozart； and the Earl of Chatham； who
had been his father's friend； thought him so fanciful a boy〃all air and
fire〃that he advised his mother to keep the Arabian Nights out of his way。
Happily she could not； for Vathek adds the thousand and second to the
thousand and one tales； with the difference that it joins to wild inventions
in the spirit of the East touches of playful extravagance that could come
only from an English humourist who sometimes laughed at his own tale；
and did not mind turning its comic side to the reader。 The younger
William Beckford had been born at his father's seat in Wiltshire； Fonthill
Abbey； and at seventeen amused himself with a caricature 〃History of
Extraordinary Painters；〃 encouraging the house…keeper of Fonthill to show
the pictures to visitors as works of Og of Basan and other worthies in her
usual edifying manner。
Young Beckford's education was continued for a year and a half at
Geneva。 He then travelled in Italy and the Low Countries； and it was at
this time that he amused himself by writing； at the age of about twenty…
two； 〃Vathek〃 in French； at a single sitting； but he gave his mind to it and
the sitting lasted three days and two nights。 An English version of it was
made by a stranger； and published without permission in 1784。 Beckford
himself published his tale at Paris and Lausanne in 1787； one year after the
death of a wife to whom he had been three years married； and who left
him with two daughters。
Beckford went to Portugal and Spain； returned to France； and was
present at the storming of the Bastille。 He was often abroad； he bought
Gibbon's library at Lausanne； and shut himself up with it for a time；
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THE HISTORY OF THE CALIPH VATHEK
having a notion of reading it through。 He was occasionally in Parliament；
but did not care for that kind of amusement。 He wrote pieces of less
enduring interest than 〃Vathek；〃 including two burlesques upon the
sentimental novel of his time。 In 1796 he settled down at Fonthill； and
began to spend there abundantly on building and rebuilding。 Perhaps he
thought of Vathek's tower when he employed workmen day and night to
build a tower for himself three hundred feet high； and set them to begin it
again when it fell down。 He is said to have spent upon Fonthill a quarter
of a million； living there in much seclusion during the last twenty years of
his life。 He died in 1844。
The happy thought of this William Beckford's life was 〃Vathek。〃 It is
a story that paints neither man nor outward nature as they are； but
reproduces with happy vivacity the luxuriant imagery and wild incidents
of an Arabian tale。 There is a ghost of a moral in the story of a sensual
Caliph going to the bad； as represented by his final introduction to the
Halls of Eblis。 But the enjoyment given by the book reflects the real
enjoyment that the author had in writing itenjoyment great enough to
cause it to be written at a heat； in one long sitting； without flagging power。
Young and lively； he delivered himself up to a free run of fancy； revelled
in the piled…up enormities of the Wicked Mother； who had not brought up
Vathek properly； and certainly wrote some parts of his nightmare tale as
merrily as if he were designing matter for a pantomime。
Whoever； in reading 〃Vathek；〃 takes it altogether seriously； does not
read it as it was written。 We must have an eye for the vein of caricature
that now and then comes to the surface； and invites a laugh without
disturbing the sense of Eastern extravagance bent seriously upon the
elaboration of a tale crowded with incident and action。 Taken altogether
seriously； the book has faults of construction。 But the faults turn into
beauties when we catch the twinkle in the writer's eye。
H。 M。
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THE HISTORY OF THE CALIPH VATHEK
THE HISTORY OF THE CALIPH
VATHEK
Vathek； ninth Caliph of the race of the Abassides； was the son of
Motassem； and the grandson of Haroun Al Raschid。 From an early
accession to the throne； and the talents he possessed to adorn it； his
subjects were induced to expect that his reign would be long and happy。
His figure was pleasing and majestic； but when he was angry one of his
eyes became so terrible that no person could bear to behold it； and the
wretch upon whom it was fixed instantly fell backward； and sometimes
expired。 For fear； however； of depopulating his dominions a