York Notes Companions: Gothic Literature

by Susan Chaplin

An exploration of Gothic literature from its origins in Horace Walpole’s 1764 classic The Castle of Otranto , through Romantic and Victorian Gothic to modernist and postmodernist takes on the form.

Genres: Nonfiction, Gothic, Literature

328 pages, Paperback

First published August 17, 2011

Reviews

[jess :£ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn this is amazing. Anyone doing OCR gothic a level papers should read this (and ffs teachers too.) the context, A03 and A05 in this book as well as the generally enjoyment I got out of reading this was brilliant. Would recommend

[Rebeca F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a long while since I've enjoyed a book about gothic literature this much. Somehow, all my latest readings on the subject seemed quite bland, boring and full of common places. Not this one. Sue Chaplin did a wonderful job with this book, it's comprehensive, easy to read, interesting, the theoretical frame is perfect and the study cases are great. Even though it's not a long book, it covers a lot, focusing in different periods since the origins of gothic literature, but also on all the main movements that fit such an ambivalent and lax tag: female gothic, American gothic, postcolonial gothic, romantic gothic, fin de siècle gothic, modern gothic, postmodern gothic and so on, and also covers all the major tropes and sources of gothic: the double, specter, monster, gothic bodies, psychoanalysis, the empire, the class conflicts and so on. The texts it analyses go from the unavoidable ones such a Otranto, Monk, all of Radcliffe, The recess, Dracula, Frankenstein, Turn of the screw, Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, etc. to others that have received attention in regard to its gothic frame, but are less obvious (probably because of their recent publication) such as some by Waters, Hills, Jackson, Carter, Atwood, Danielewski and so on.
This book is perfect for anyone who is just starting to research the subject, but also a great overview for those with more knowledge about the gothic.

[Carmen Tudor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent resource book for those studying or researching the Gothic. While much familiar ground is covered, the sections and chapters are put together very nicely and allow for an easy flow between eras, tropes/conventions and generic evolution. For me, this book provides a way to consolidate and refresh my knowledge of other, more context-specific, titles that I'm feeling a bit stifled by (Gothic reference intended). :)

[Robert Welbourn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fantastic accompaniment for anyone investigating the Gothic at any level, from beginner to pro.

[machinaheart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview, easy and enjoyable to read :)