The Abbess: A Romance is a gothic novel by William Henry Ireland first published in 1799. The text was modelled upon Matthew Lewis's The Monk (1796).
The eponymous central character, Mother Vittoria Bracciano, is similar to that of "Monk" Lewis's Ambrosio, as she is likewise motivated by dark and powerful forces.
The novel is one of the most voluptuous and salacious gothic novels in terms of its graphic scenes of sex, Roman Catholic religious fervour and torture.
Influence on the Gothic Genre
According to Benjamin F. Fisher, Edgar Allan Poe was familiar with Ireland's work and The Abbess influenced some of his macabre later works.
Publication history
The book was first published in 1796. It was republished in England 1799, printed for Earle and Hemet. The epigraph states that it is lifted from Shakespeare; however it is actually taken from John Dryden's 1679 rewrite of Troilus and Cressida. A full edition of the text can be read online here. A further British edition was published in 1834.
In 1822 and 1836, there were two publications in Spanish. In 1824, there was a German edition.
Character List
Donna Laura is one of the suggested previous love interests of Marcello, but is pursued by Vivani.
Duca Bertocci is Maddalena's father and head of an illustrious family. AfterI his wife (Marchese di Carnaro) died, he became quite reclusive and rarely sees his daughter. His son died of a fever at a young age.
Gerardo & Tomaso are two of the known servants of Marcello. Both are seen as very devoted.
Giacinta joined the sisterhood in the middle of the night, and is a very beautiful young woman. She quickly befriends Maddalena, giving her a manuscript describing her past.
Maddalena Rosa is the daughter of Duca di Bertocci. Her mother died during childbirth with her brother, who died of a fever when he was young. Maddalena is a nun at the Sisterhood of Santa Maria and is close friends with Marietta. She is known to be very beautiful, and was the love interest of Marcello from the first time he saw her. After Marietta's death, Maddalena begins to sleepwalk and eventually meets Marcello. This meeting angers the Abbess and leads to Maddalena being sent away.
Marcello (Conte) is the novel's main protagonist and the romantic hero. He is also best friends with Vivani. It is suggested that he has had previous love interests before, including Donna Laura. Although in love with Maddalena, Marcello accidentally confesses his love to the wrong woman (the Abbess herself). This results in the Abbess taking her revenge on the lovers.
Marietta (Donna Orsini) is Maddalena's closest friend in the convent; however this becomes difficult when Marietta takes the veil. This often creates difficulty for the two. After Maddalena has some visions in her sleep, Marietta becomes ill with a fever and later dies – Maddalena never leaving her side.
Padre Ubaldo is a monk belonging to the monastery of Santa Croce. It is noted throughout the text that he is ugly with a “flaccid face”. His name isn't revealed till partway through Volume 1 of the novel, which increases the mystery surrounding his character. To show his devotion, Ubaldo is known to perform self-flagellation as a form of worship. He is devout to the Abbess and helps her derive the plan to send Maddalena away.
Sister Beatrice is an evil sister at the convent of Santa Maria. Disliked by many of the other nuns, when she was younger a gentleman from Naples rejected her hand. After apparently being back in high spirits, the man was later found missing.
Vittoria Bracciano (The Abbess) is the title character of the novel. From the outset she is seen as elevated from the rest of the sisterhood. She carries a commanding aura, which is not only beautiful but also shows sign of malice. The Abbess is descended from “one of the noblest families in Italy” and was the youngest of several daughters – leading to her father procuring her the role of Lady Abbess.
Vivani is Marcello's best friend, who he met in school, and the Conte de Porta. After losing his mother when he was a child, he became Conte when he turned 18, after his father passed away. Characterised as being lively and free-spirited, Vivani is often caught seducing and accosting women.