The Gothic Novel

xiaotien · Post by **xiaotien** » Fri September 19th, 2008, 11:24 pm

omg, annis.
you've read murdoch?

will you be my friend??

annis · Post by **annis** » Sat September 20th, 2008, 1:45 am

Lol! A did read several iris Murdoch novels back in the day- but the day is unfortunately a long way back. The first of her novels that I read was "The Bell", which really struck me at the time - well-developed characters and powerful imagery - the story is still clear in my mind after all these years.
I was very young and innocent then, and didn't know anything about the homosexuality which made for so much of dynamic tension in the story, so that was a bit of a surprise and an education for me!

Cuchulainn · Post by **Cuchulainn** » Sat September 20th, 2008, 3:29 am

I guess the novel that started it all was Horace Walpole's "The Castle of Otranto"

I own Jane Austen's "Northanger Abbey," but have never read it. I'm sort of out the whole vibe of literature from around that period. Is Northanger Abbey worth a read, though?

annis · Post by **annis** » Sat September 20th, 2008, 5:02 am

I guess it depends whether you like Jane Austen's writing, Cuchulainn.
"Northanger Abbey" is a gothic parody, or I should say, a satire about the fashion for reading gothic novels, rather than a straight gothic novel. A young girl, Catherine is invited to visit Northanger Abbey, the estate of some new friends. Because she has been reading Ann Radcliffe's gothic novel "The Mysteries of Udolpho", and other gothic novels, the impressionable Catherine expects Northanger Abbey to be dark, ancient and full of fantastical mystery. She makes a lot of strange assumptions based on the ideas she's picked up from reading gothic tales, including suspecting her host of murder.
She ends up upseting everyone, embarrassing herself and realising that life doesn't correspond to fiction, though all turns out well in the end,
It's JA-style gentle irony, probably a bit more obvious than in some of her other books.
I should point out that most of the interaction takes place during the usual acceptable Regency social activities, so it's definitely not a high-action story.

chuck · Post by **chuck** » Mon September 22nd, 2008, 3:19 am

Edgar Allan Poe's short novel, "Murders In The Rue Morgue" had some definite Gothic imagery.....It gave me the shivers....Also I have seen some silver screen of adaptions... very creepy.....

annis · Post by **annis** » Mon September 22nd, 2008, 7:20 pm

Yes, "Murders in the Rue Morgue" was a real spinechiller. I mentioned before that i see Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes novels as having definite gothic elements as well - I'm thinking of stories like "Hound of the Baskervilles"- the remote, isolated house on the gloomy moors, mysterious happenings, and over all, the haunting howl of the hound- guaranteed to get the hair on the back of your neck rising!

chuck · Post by **chuck** » Mon September 22nd, 2008, 7:44 pm

[quote=""annis""]Yes, "Murders in the Rue Morgue" was a real spinechiller. I mentioned before that i see Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes novels as having definite gothic elements as well - I'm thinking of stories like "Hound of the Baskervilles"- the remote, isolated house on the gloomy moors, mysterious happenings, and over all, the haunting howl of the hound- guaranteed to get the hair on the back of your neck rising![/quote]

Selene....you are spot on....Yes! Doyle's HOTB; the Gothic imagery is terrific( wonder why anybody would be walking the Moors after dark?)....I love a bit of the Gothic supernatural weaved into the storyline....I'm reading another Barbara Erskine time slip novel called "Midnight is a Lonely Place" very interesting touch of the supernatural when the main character keeps smelling fresh soil accompanied with maggots, very creepy...the story as it develops is a bit of a stretch and her characters are a bit predictable....but I'm enjoying the ride

annis · Post by **annis** » Mon September 22nd, 2008, 8:24 pm

"Midnight is a Lonely Place" is the most gothic of BE's novels, I think. I found it really quite creepy. I've not long since finished I her latest novel, "Warrior's Princess" which also has a Roman British theme. It's the usual scenario- modern-day woman gets caught up in unfinished business from the oast. In this case the past thread belongs to Eigon daughter of British chieftain Caratacus (Caradoc in the British language). When Caratacus was defeated by the Romans he and his family were carted off to Rome, but C made a famous speech which so affected the Emperor Claudius and the Senate that they allowed him to stay in Rome as an honoured "guest" rather than making him lion fodder at the Colosseum.

Though Eigon's story was interesting, I found myself feeling impatient at times at the familiar formula- once you've read a few BE novels, the pattern is pretty predictable.

Jane found this poem for me a while ago- I'd been looking for it for ages- remembered it from the past. It's written in typically florid Victorian style, but for some reason it caught my fancy when I was young.
"Caractacus the Briton" from "Lays of Romance and Chivalry" by William Stewart Ross"
http://www.archive.org/details/laysofromancechi00ross

PS Have you seen the "Michael Palin for President" video clip on You Tube? As a Monty Python fan, I know you'd enjoy it.
There's a link in the "Chat" thread.

chuck · Post by **chuck** » Tue September 23rd, 2008, 3:09 am

Annis....Michael Palin For President...What a hoot....Deeply Religious...he will get my vote.....I miss the rowdy lads.....Their humor is so timelss..... they helped me get through the Nixon and Reagan eras....Caractacus, his compelling and interesting life would make a great film......Yes BE's character fall into a sameness and are quite predictable.....Still I might give "Lady of Hay" a go, before I tackle Ennis's "Byzantium"

Volgadon · Post by **Volgadon** » Mon January 12th, 2009, 9:28 pm

Gogol occasionaly pulled off a good gothic tale. Viy is incredibly creepy, a novice has to hold a vigil over the body of a witch inside an old, gloomy village church. If he steps out of his chalk circle she will destroy him. On the last night various horrible demons and creatures are summoned.
the Eve of Ivan Kupala (or St John's Eve) is also very gothic. A poor labourer wants to marry the village beauty but her father refuses. A very mysterious and nefarious character shows him how to find a buried treasure using the fern blossom. Of course, as with any encounter with darkness, the results are tragic and bloody. Very gothic, as good as any Poe.