Willam Beckford

Author Code: EWBF

Educated primarily by a private tutor, Beckford spent many years abroad before returning to England in 1796. Independently wealthy, he spent the majority of his time as a recluse and working on the construction of his Gothic mansion at Fonthill, one of the most sensational buildings in England at the time. Most of Fonthill was destroyed in 1807 when the central tower collapsed. His literary fame came with the publication of Vathek in 1782, a fantastic Gothic novel. Written in French, it was translated to English in 1786. His other published works include Life at Fonthill (a journal of the period 1807-1822) and his travel accounts. Because of his extravagance, Beckford was forced to sell his estate in 1822.