2023 Buddy Read: Seven "Horrid Novels" Gothic Reads from Northanger Abbey

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

The Seven Horrid Novels:

This renown Gothic Novels list is quite famous in the Jane Austen community. Austen herself enjoyed Gothic fiction, especially the work of Ann Radcliffe.

List of the Seven "Horrid Novels" Gothic Reads from Northanger Abbey

The Castle of Wolfenbach: A German Story by Eliza Parsons (1793)
Clermont by Regina Maria Roche (1798)
The Mysterious Warning, a German Tale by Eliza Parsons (1796)
The Necromancer, or The Tale of the Black Forest by Karl Friedrich Kahlert (1794)
The Midnight Bell by Francis Lathom (1798)
The Orphan of the Rhine by Eleanor Sleath (1798)
The Horrid Mysteries: A Story From the German Of The Marquis Of Grosse by Carl Grosse (1796)

Also mentioned:
The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe (1794)
The Italian by Ann Radcliffee (1796)

Member Gilbert suggested this one.
Anyone going to try one or more of the Horror Gothic reads?

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I'll be reading The Italian in January and hopefully a few more as the year progresses.

[Nidhi]

I too will be reading Italian but I have to read Vanity Fair and A Dance to the Music of Time, reread Swann’s Way, Invisible Cities by Calvino busy beginning of the year lol.

I wanted to read Italian for a long time, now it is a group read, I must read it.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Nidhi wrote: "I too will be reading Italian but I have to read Vanity Fair and A Dance to the Music of Time, reread Swann’s Way, Invisible Cities by Calvino busy beginning of the year lol.

I wanted to read Ital..."

That is also the one I was looking into for purchasing. We do have lots going on for next year. Good thing this is a Buddy Read! This one will have no schedule. Just when you can.

[Gilbert]

Besides the two Radcliffes, I will add one Matthew Lewis “The Monk” another of the great gothics.

[Chad]

Gilbert wrote: "Besides the two Radcliffes, I will add one Matthew Lewis “The Monk” another of the great gothics."

I’ve been meaning to read that one.

[Penelope]

So far I have ready to read:
The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe, and,
The Midnight Bell by Francis Lathom
Also have a copy of The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole which I would like to read.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Great Classcis to read next year Penelope!

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

I broke down and ordered The Italian in paperback. Hopefully will be here around this weekend.

[Gilbert]

I'm going to start this project with a previously unlisted gothic, ] by Horace Walpole.
Although not mentioned by Jane Austen, this is considered the first of the gothic novels. Then onto more of the list.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Gilbert I got the Italian in the mail yesterday.
The font must be an 8.
I definitely will need my readers for this one!

[Gilbert]

I need magnifiers myself with small print volumes.

[Danada]

ooohhh! Gothics! I’m in!!

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Danada wrote: "ooohhh! Gothics! I’m in!!"

Hi Danada and happy to have you join in with us. You can read any of the listed ones and share what your reading and comment as you go or however you want to share.

[Danada]

Hi Lesle :)

I’m in the middle of reading The Monk by Matthew Lewis and Children of the Abbey by Regina Maria Roche.

Several years ago (can’t remember exactly when) I read The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole which was very surreal! and Romance of the Forest by Ann Radcliffe which was wonderful, her writing is beautiful. There was one line that I will never forget - “‘tis but a scratch”. I won’t say any more, but you all have to read it! :D I will read it again too!

I’ve wanted to read all the Horrids since reading Nothanger Abbey. I’ve started Udolpho a few times but alway have gotten distracted by other things. Hopefully you all can keep me on target.

[Danada]

I just remembered that I have also read The Castle of Wolfenbach by Eliza Parsons. It was very good too. Remembering a

the incredible adventures that Matilda went through!

[Nidhi]

I have read Castle of Otranto and Mysteries of Udolpho , i liked both of them and they were not very spooky but The Monk i fear is spooky so i am hesitating in reading it. The Italian is good as far as i have read.

Danada, i will look forward to your response on The Monk.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Danada wrote: "Romance of the Forest by Ann Radcliffe..."

Ohhh that sounds interesting I like her writing style too!

[Danada]

Nidhi, so far the book is a bit… I don’t know how to best describe it.. grittier or something than the other Gothics I’ve read. I somehow recall from Northanger Abbey that it was something more often read by men at that time than the ladies who were all enthralled with Horrids. One of the big differences so far for me and perhaps contributing to the idea that the book is more “horrid”, is that the book is chronicling the moral and spiritual downfall of the main character. The others seem center around a main character, a young lady, who is beset by danger and evil. (view spoiler)[ One of the young ladies we encounter so far, who seemed pure and innocent at first, actually seems to have schemed and acted against all societal norms to contribute and connive to bring about the initial decline into sin for the Monk! 8-0 (hide spoiler)] The “supernatural” in Radcliffe (I think) tends to turn out to have logical explanations, in The Monk the supernatural we have encountered so far is actually real. That might be another reason why it feels more “horrid” than the others…

Lesle, I think it was :D If you try I hope you enjoy! Its been a while since I read it and I am a terrible one for re-reading books so I hope to re-read it as well as the other Horrids and maybe some others that didn’t make it into Northanger Abbey.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Danada wrote: "maybe some others that didn’t make it into Northanger Abbey..."

I think is would be fine to discuss those here as well.

[Gilbert]

This is a great introduction to the gothic horror genre that was so very popular in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It just got better from here.
If you're interested in finding out more about gothic literature, you can go to Youtube and put "gothic literature" into the browser and you'll get dozens of videos on this subject.
Starting: The Castle of Wolfenbach: A German Story by Eliza Parsons.
This is the first of the Northanger Abbey Seven Horrid novels.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Interesting Gibert we will have to check them out!

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

The Italian by Ann Radcliffe is like a gothic soap opera-it's a fun read.

[Gilbert]

These are, in their way, real fun to read.
My next will be by Ann Radcliffe, predating [book:The Italian|822161.
This earlier work was the beginning of Radcliffe's popularity in the gothic horror genre.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

Our group read that a few years ago, Gilbert. The discussion is in the Archives-somewhere. I know it's there but I can't find it!

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Rosemarie wrote: "Our group read that a few years ago, Gilbert. The discussion is in the Archives-somewhere. I know it's there but I can't find it!"

Here it is Rosemarie! We kept changing the title as we changed books if I remember right.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

Thanks, Lesle.

[Gilbert]

Thanx, Lesle, I’ll read through the comments.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

No problem!
I actually really enjoyed that thread.

[Gilbert]

Finally finished The Castle of Wolfenbach: A German Story by Eliza Parsons.
Will start A Sicilian Romance by Ann Radcliffe over the weekend.

[Gilbert]

Lesle wrote: "Rosemarie wrote: "Our group read that a few years ago, Gilbert. The discussion is in the Archives-somewhere. I know it's there but I can't find it!"

Here it is Rosemarie! We kept changing the titl..."

Read the thread for A Sicilian Romance in 2020, which also covers Lady Audley's Secret which I read in 2018.
Starting tomorrow on A Sicilian Romance.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Gilbert how is A Sicilian Romance going?
If I remember right I thought the two sisters were opposites and the whole book read like a Soap Opera. Pretty entertaining!

[Gilbert]

Between creepy castles and rusted shut locks and doors opened and closed with some racket, and sisters who aren't the most caring, this novel's a hoot.
Bring on the romance if you can find the runaways in the mountains and forests amidst night and day.

[Gilbert]

Finished A Sicilian Romance by Ann Radcliffe. All the elements that go into a gothic classic are all here. A little slow at times, but , then again, it was written in 1790 so styles have changed a bit.

Starting another of the Jane Austen Seven: The Necromancer, or The Tale of the Black Forest by Karl Friedrich Kahlert

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

I gnjoyed the Gothic read A Sicilian Romance by Ann Radcliffe. You are right all the elements are there!
I was thinking Kathy might have got us started on it the one year that we had the on going read. It was quite fun as I remember.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

My next book will be The Orphan of the Rhine by Eleanor Sleath.

[Kathy]

Lesle wrote: "I gnjoyed the Gothic read A Sicilian Romance by Ann Radcliffe. You are right all the elements are there!
I was thinking Kathy might have got us started on it the one ..."

I went back and read that Gothic Literature thread, Lesle. I think we had a lot of fun with those books!

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Kathy wrote: "Lesle wrote: "I gnjoyed the Gothic read A Sicilian Romance by Ann Radcliffe. You are right all the elements are there!
I was thinking Kathy might have got us started ..."

Yes Kathy I really enjoyed it!

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I'm reading The Orphan of the Rhine and am really enjoying the author's style-and the story too.

[Gilbert]

Finished The Necromancer, or The Tale of the Black Forest. So many tales told by so many people it got a bit confusing trying to keep up with all the stories of castles and maidens and murderers and thieves.

Starting: [book:The Mysteries of Udolpho|3219891 by [author:Ann Radcliffe|43220.

[Gilbert]

I don't think I've ever read a story that has more sublimity to its story line or more fainting and tears on almost every page.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Gilbert wrote: "I don't think I've ever read a story that has more sublimity to its story line or more fainting and tears on almost every page."

Haha! I have thought that with a couple of the Gothics we read in the Archived thread.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I've just finished The Orphan of the Rhine. I enjoyed it, but I need to take a lengthy break from gothic novels-the sublime scenery and the over-wrought emotions are too much at times.
I liked the plot in this one.

[Gilbert]

Just finished The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe.

Starting tomorrow another of the Jane Austen Seven: The Mysterious Warning byEliza Parsons

[Gilbert]

Just finished The Mysterious Warning by Eliza Parsons. Very confusing plot but an interesting read, none the less.
Starting tomorrow another of the Jane Austen Seven: Horrid Mysteries byCarl Grosse.

[Gilbert]

Finished Horrid Mysteries by Carl Grosse. Very confusing.

Starting another: The Midnight Bell by Francis Lathom.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Gilbert wrote: "Finished Horrid Mysteries by Carl Grosse. Very confusing...."

Goodreads starts out this as the description: A bizarre work whose labyrinthine plot defies summary.

I would think that alone would detour many readers.

[Gilbert]

Starting: Northanger Abbey by Jane Austenin conjunction with Katie Lumsden's Jane Austen July read along (YouTube).

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Her Gothic read! Yeah Gilbert. I so enjoyed this one.

I looked into Katie, I had not heard of her. I will have to check her out more when I have a moment. I liked her on FB to help remind me. Thank you!!

[Gilbert]

The seven Horrid novels are not the only reads mentioned in chapter six of NA. Austen also mentions: Sir Charles Grandison by Samuel Richardson.
I tackled this brick end of May and am up to volume IV, letter V, page s 796(with intro).