First published in 1786 under the title An Arabian Tale, purporting to be a translation from an ancient Arabic manuscript, William Beckford's Vathek is perhaps his most famous and enduring work. The book tells the story of the Caliph Vathek who renounces his Islamic faith and descends into a life of debauchery and sin, leading to his eventual punishment in Hell. Vathek is partially based on the historic Caliph Al-Wathiq (r. 842-47) but is mainly a semi-autobiographical novel by Beckford following the scandals surrounding his private life, most notably his affair with William Courtenay, later 9th Earl of Devon.