My Gothic Heart

by Charlie Castelletti (Editor)

The word gothic conjures up crumbling castles, passion and unnerving supernatural events. It's a powerful genre and a mood that has influenced writers, artists and designers ever since. This is a gorgeous anthology of extracts from extravagant and dark gothic stories and verse.

Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning pocket-sized classics. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. My Gothic Heart is selected and introduced by editor and writer Charlie Castelletti.

My Gothic Heart features tantalising extracts from the famous names of gothic writing such as Ann Radcliffe, Bram Stoker, the Brontë sisters and John Keats. It then travels forward to the early twentieth century, finding gothic resonance in the writing of Virginia Woolf, Oscar Wilde and Wilfred Owen. Altogether, it’s a powerful mix that cannot fail to stir the emotions.

Genres: Poetry, Gothic, Classics, Short Stories, Dark, Reference, Anthologies

186 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 12, 2023

About the author

Also writes as C. A. Castle

Reviews

[Marijana☕✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mislila sam da će ovo više biti neki uvidi o žanru, a zapravo je kolekcija izabranih pasusa i poezije. Okej je "to set the mood" i taman sam mogla da iskusim kakva su stilski dela koja mi stoje na tbr.

[Salla Hiltunen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Viehättävä pikku kirjanen, johon on koottu runoja ja proosakatkelmia goottilaisesta kirjallisuudesta. Mukana on tekstejä muun muassa Ann Radcliffelta, Bram Stokerilta, Mary ja Percy Shelleyltä, Oscar Wildelta, Brontën sisaruksilta, Edgar Allan Poelta, WIlliam Shakespearelta, Charles Baudelairelta ja Jane Austenilta.

Kirja on jaettu yhdeksään osaan, joissa kussakin keskitytään aina johonkin teemaan, kuten kuolemaan, rakkauteen, taiteisiin tai pimeyteen. Tekstit ovat täynnä melankoliaa, intohimoa, murhetta ja muita vahvoja tunteita.

Tämä on mielenkiintoinen ja monipuolinen kokoelma. Etenkin lyhyet romaanikatkelmat jäävät ehkä välillä vähän irrallisen tuntuisiksi, mutta kokonaisuus on kuitenkin toimiva. Mukana on monia vanhoja tuttujani ja suosikkejani, mutta myös paljon ennestään vieraita tekstejä. Vieraampiin nimiin pitää ehdottomasti tutustua vielä tarkemminkin.

Fyysinen kirja on todella kaunis ja miellyttävä. Kullanhohtoiset kannet ovat upeat, ja pieni koko sopii täydellisesti käteen. Punainen kirjanmerkkinauha kruunaa koko komeuden. (Ah, kirjanmerkkinauhat. ❤ Olisipa niitä enemmän nykyajan kirjoissa!)

[Cécile · Rating 4 out of 5]

love gothic poetry

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

LUV THIS <3

[Katrine Engelhardt Thomsen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a match for my Gothic taste.

If it worked for you, please stop reading and just enjoy your book.

Still reading … okay, I warned you.

I love the idea of gathering your favourite bits of spooky Gothic literature and sharing it with people. But you gotta say more about why these are your chosen best bits and give some context as to where in the original works, these parts are taken from.

Why this part of Jane Eyre? Why quote Romeo and Juliet? And no “because its your favourite” is not a valid reason.
Say more.

Because this book is all borrowed parts and no context. From Shakespeare to Virginia Woolf and beyond.

This book feels more like a swarm of moths being released in the reader’s face.

Catch what you can and see what you get.

Aside from an anemic intro, the book is devided into sub sections, none of which have introductions.

Its just “vibes” and up to you, the unguided reader, to see if you feel the vibe of each section.

I just didn’t feel the vibe.

[Flor Ana]

DNF

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely little compilation of Gothic writings, some of which were familiar friends and some which I had not yet discovered. My favorite one of the bunch was Emily Dickinson’s “One Need Not be a Chamber to be Haunted.”

(Taking a star off for some rather egregious errors, like attributing Wuthering Heights to Charlotte Brontë 😱)

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I really liked this anthology. I tended to prefer the prose to the verses, but some of the poems were really nice, too (e.g. Porphyria’s Lover is FANTASTIC). Overall, a solid selection of gothic writing. Would recommend to anyone who likes romantic/spooky/Victorian/dramatic/heartachy/human experience vibes.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mainly poetry, with some selections from prose works, Charlie Castelletti has chosen a wonderful array of passages exemplifying the storm-ridden, darkly romantic heart of The Gothic. It's a great introduction for any making a first venture into the genre, with enough variety and depth to satisfy the ardent initiate.

My smallest, tiniest, infinitesimal criticism is that no extract from Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto is included.

[Ehryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been reading gothic poetry and literature since I was 11 years old and finding something new and unique has been a journey for me. While these excerpts certainly aren’t new, I really enjoyed the categories they were held in; like “What’s This Flesh?” and “The Earth is a Tomb, the Gaudy Sky a Vault, We But Walking Corpses”.

My favorite section was “A Dream of Death” because I’ve always held a fascination for the human fascination with death and decay and what comes after. My favorite poem, though, in the whole book was “Time to Come” by Walt Whitman.

[Pieter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some excellent and effective examples of gothic writing, but also poems and abstracts that cry out for a bit more context and introduction - anything more than simply being grouped in themes that are not always obvious what they represent.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good collection of gothic literature and poetry, sometimes repetitive, for example multiple excerpts from Wuthering Heights but only one from Dracula. I've come to the conclusion that some of them just don't make sense and that's the way the style is/was.

[Nat Bat · Rating 5 out of 5]

i thought it was sweet! Quite inspiring as there's excerpts from classics I haven't gotten around to. I would like to take up poetry in the new year. I think I bought this book in October time and dipped din and out of it since. Pretty cover too.

[Charlotte · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea.
Only a few poems were worth it.
lovely cover though

[Carla Gallardo · Rating 3 out of 5]

picked this up from the library and got some amazing book recommendations, absolutely needing to read wuthering heights

[Lily Scior-Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection, and the final poem is possibly my favourite

[Husna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good collection for someone who wants to try reading poetry for the first time

[Lavender Wren · Rating 4 out of 5]

such a heart wrenching and beautiful anthology. literally me!!

[Ainsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is why we read.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful collection, but misattributes Wuthering Heights to Charlotte Brontë, instead of Emily Brontë.

[EE · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Olivia king · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book gave me an existential life crisis but the cover is cute ig

[Tiarra Silvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, I didn't realize how much I needed a collection of gothic poems and literary excerpts until I picked up this book, and I know Ill be returning back to it again and again. Plus, the book itself is tiny and beautiful in all of the best ways.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice selection of poetry and prose. The epilogue was enjoyable as well.