Gothic Documents: A Sourcebook 1700-1820

In the 1790s, while across the Channel a political revolution raged, Britain was struck by a reading revolution, a taste for terror fiction that seemed to know no bounds. Ann Radcliffe and "Monk" Lewis were only the most celebrated of a host of writers purveying a new brand of "Gothic" literature. How is it that the age of Enlightenment gave rise to the genre of the literary ghost story? This is a landmark in the study of Gothic writing: nowhere else is the historical location of Gothic more richly or vividly illustrated.

In the 1790s, while across the Channel a political revolution raged, Britain was struck by a reading revolution, a taste for terror fiction that seemed to know no bounds. Ann Radcliffe and "Monk" Lewis were only the most celebrated of a host of writers purveying a new brand of "Gothic" literature. How is it that the age of Enlightenment gave rise to the genre of the literary ghost story? This is a landmark in the study of Gothic writing: nowhere else is the historical location of Gothic more richly or vividly illustrated.

Booknews

Assembles close to 100 excerpts and texts connected with the cultural phenomenon known as Gothic writing, attempting to balance the needs of students and the interests of scholars. For works studied heavily, modern editions are used to facilitate shifting between them and this collection. Otherwise, first editions, editions in wide circulation during the period, or editions of special significance are used. The supernatural, religion, origins, aesthetics, terror, revolution, renovation, and anti-Gothic are among the sections. Distributed in the US by St. Martin's Press. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Emma Clery is British Academy Research Fellow at Sheffield Hallam University.

Robert Miles is Reader in English at Sheffield Hallam University.