Book

Gothic Writers: A Critical and Bibliographical Guide

by Douglass H. Thomson, Jack G. Voller, Frederick S. Frank

📖 Overview

Gothic Writers: A Critical and Bibliographical Guide serves as a comprehensive reference work covering major Gothic authors from the 18th century through modern times. The volume contains detailed entries on writers including Horace Walpole, Ann Radcliffe, Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe, and Stephen King. Each entry provides biographical information, primary bibliographical listings, and analysis of the author's key Gothic works and contributions to the genre. The guide incorporates extensive secondary source citations and recommendations for further reading about each featured writer. The editors organize the content chronologically and geographically, allowing readers to trace the evolution of Gothic literature across different periods and regions. Contributors include leading scholars in Gothic studies who bring academic rigor while maintaining accessibility for students and researchers. This reference work illuminates the ongoing influence of Gothic conventions and themes in literature, highlighting how different authors have adapted supernatural and psychological elements for their cultural moments. The guide positions Gothic writing as a vital literary tradition that continues to resonate with contemporary audiences.

👀 Reviews

Readers note this guide serves as a reference work for Gothic literature scholars and students. Most reviews emphasize its comprehensive coverage of both well-known and obscure Gothic writers. Readers appreciated: - Detailed bibliographies for each author - Coverage of writers beyond just the most famous names - Clear organization and accessibility of entries - Historical context provided for each writer Main criticisms: - Entries vary in depth and quality between contributors - Some readers wanted more analysis of specific works - High price point for academic market - Limited coverage of more recent Gothic authors Reviews/Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (8 ratings) Amazon: No ratings available WorldCat: Recommended by academic librarians One academic reviewer on JSTOR praised its "thorough research and extensive citations," while a graduate student reviewer on LibraryThing noted it was "invaluable for dissertation research but expensive for individual purchase."

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🤔 Interesting facts

🦇 The guide includes over 50 detailed entries covering Gothic writers from the 18th through 20th centuries, going far beyond just the most famous names like Mary Shelley and Edgar Allan Poe. 🏰 Many of the featured writers were discovered through extensive archival research, bringing attention to overlooked Gothic authors who had been nearly forgotten by literary history. 📚 Each entry provides not only biographical information but also a complete bibliography of the author's works, including rare editions and manuscript locations. 🖋️ The book was one of the first comprehensive guides to trace how Gothic literature evolved from purely supernatural horror to psychological terror and modern horror fiction. 🌙 The guide reveals how many Gothic writers were influenced by real-life locations and events, such as Matthew Lewis being inspired by his visits to German castles for "The Monk" (1796).