Fatal Revenge; Or, the Family of Montorio (1807) is a novel by Charles
Maturin. Published under the psueudonym Dennis Jasper Murphy, Fatal
Revenge; Or, the Family of Montorio was Maturin's debut novel. Largely
ignored by critics and readers, it managed to draw attention from Sir
Walter Scott, who supported Maturin's efforts and encouraged him to
pursue a career as a writer. Despite its humble beginnings, Fatal
Revenge; Or, the Family of Montorio is considered a masterpiece of
Gothic romance. "Their palaces were haunted by groups of monks, and
magicians, and alchymists, and astrologers; and amid the most
superstitious state of the country of superstition, the House of
Montorio was distinguished by weak and gloomy credulity." At the siege
of Barcelona in 1697, two brothers of mysterious origin fight bravely
and gain the respect of their fellow officers. When the fighting has
ceased, they are counted among the dead. Gathering his subordinates,
their commandant, "acquainted with their name, and their country, and
their misfortunes," begins to tell the story of their cursed family.
Fatal Revenge; Or, the Family of Montorio is a story of mystery and
terror that engages with timeless themes of loyalty, fantasy, and fate.
With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript,
this edition of Charles Maturin's Fatal Revenge; Or, the Family of
Montorio is a classic of Irish literature reimagined for modern
readers.