“Back to School” doesn’t look quite the same this year. Whether you’re attending virtually, in person, hybrid, or still waiting on your school administrators to figure that out, things are sure to be rather chaotic as we try to navigate this new reality of educating during a pandemic. I figured I would try to reintroduce a little normalcy to this fall season by bringing back my old tradition of putting together a mini-syllabus of classic Gothic works for the start of the school year. In my initial Back to School Reading List, I highlighted a few Gothic novels you’re most likely to come across in class. I followed that post up with a Short Story Edition, Drama Edition, and Poetry Edition of the reading list. Today, I’m returning to novels to spotlight a few more classics that didn’t make it into the initial post: Continue reading Back to School Reading List, Part 2
Tag: Northanger Abbey
The Underestimated Importance of Minerva Press
How did one publishing house change the course of the Gothic novel and, in fact, of novels in general? And why haven’t you heard of it? This week, I’d like to give you a brief history lesson on one of England’s most influential—and yet least talked about—publishers, Minerva Press. Founded by William Lane in 1780, though it didn’t adopt the name “Minerva” until 1790, Minerva Press was the largest publisher of fiction for three decades around the turn of the 19th century. And its specialty? The Gothic novel. Minerva press churned out Gothics by the dozens, usually written by female authors. Yet few of these works ever make it into literary discourse, and the press itself is usually dismissed as a low-brow publisher of cheap nonsense. Only in recent years have scholars really started to examine the influence of this remarkable press and question whether that reputation might be undeserved.
Continue reading The Underestimated Importance of Minerva Press
Only a Novel–3 Days, 3 Quotes Challenge: Day 2
In case you haven’t seen yesterday’s post, I’ve been nominated by Wandering Words to participate in the 3 Days, 3 Quotes Challenge. Today is Day 2!
Without further ado, here is my second quote—one of my favorite passages from Jane Austen’s Gothic parody, Northanger Abbey:
“And what are you reading, Miss—?” “Oh! It is only a novel!” replies the young lady, while she lays down her book with affected indifference, or momentary shame. “It is only Cecilia, or Camilla, or Belinda”; or, in short, only some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humour, are conveyed to the world in the best-chosen language.
Continue reading Only a Novel–3 Days, 3 Quotes Challenge: Day 2
The Gothic Lit Starter Kit
New to gothic literature? Maybe you’ve always loved horror movies and dark films, and want to see if you can get the same shivery feels from the written word. Or maybe you’ve wandered over from another genre such as romance or fantasy after realizing that you kinda like the dark stuff. Or maybe you’re a baby bat who has found the clothing and the music but doesn’t know where to start with the books. Well, whatever brought you over to the dark side, I’m glad you came. Gothic literature is a magical world filled with so many abandoned castles, moonlit moors, and frightening forests to explore. But if you’ve never read anything in the genre (or loose collection of genres) before, jumping right in can seem a little…well, scary. But not to worry! Your favorite Gothic Librarian has put together the perfect little starter pack of gothic literature to get you into the genre.