The Anaconda
The Anaconda is a novel by Matthew Gregory Lewis, first published in 1797. It tells the story of a young man, Don Felix de Silva, who is sent to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola to take possession of a plantation that has been left to him by his father. On the island, he meets a mysterious woman, the beautiful and dangerous Anaconda, who is the leader of a group of escaped slaves. Don Felix is drawn into a dangerous game of love and revenge as he attempts to win the heart of the Anaconda and protect his plantation from the forces of evil. Along the way, he must confront his own inner demons and face the consequences of his actions. The novel is a thrilling adventure story that explores themes of love, loyalty, and justice.
By Matthew Gregory Lewis · First published 1818 · Genre: Gothic Fiction, Romance, Adventure · 18,628 words
First lines
'The Lord in heaven forbid!' exclaimed the old man, while every limb was convulsed with horror, the blood forsook his cheeks, and he clasped his hands in agony; 'but the thing is impossible!' he resumed, after a few moments passed in reflection, 'absolutely impossible! What! Everard? a boy, whose childhood was passed under my own roof, under my very eye? whose manners are so mild, who was ever so gentle, so grateful, so kind; whose heart I know as well as I do my own. Bless my soul, sister Milman, what a fright you have given me! But it's no great matter now, for, when I reflect upon this history of yours, I see clearly that the thing is quite impossible, and so there's an end of it.'
What this Textopian page supports
The Anaconda is listed on Textopian as a novel by Matthew Gregory Lewis, dated 1818 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Matthew Gregory Lewis
- Date: 1818 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Gothic Fiction, Romance, Adventure, Horror
- Length: 18,628 words
- Structure: 1 section, 563 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Anaconda by Matthew Gregory Lewis
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Anaconda?
- How does this novel by Matthew Gregory Lewis fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Gothic Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Gothic Fiction — The Anaconda is a classic example of Gothic fiction, with its dark and mysterious setting, supernatural elements, and themes of horror and suspense.
- Romance — The Anaconda contains a romantic subplot between two of the main characters, and the story is driven by their relationship.
- Adventure — The Anaconda follows the characters on a thrilling adventure as they explore the mysterious jungle and encounter dangerous creatures.
- Horror — The Anaconda contains many elements of horror, such as suspenseful scenes, supernatural occurrences, and frightening creatures.
Tags
gothic · horror · adventure · mystery · supernatural · suspense · dark · fantasy · mythology · exploration · nature · creature