In a Gothic novel, the sky seems perpetually dark and stormy, the air filled with an unshakable chill. The atmosphere of eeriness is as important as the scariness of the events themselves. Ghosts are right at home in the genre, where they’re used to explore themes of entrapment and isolation, while omens, curses, and superstitions add a further air of mystery. Whether they feature supernatural phenomena or focus on the psychological torment of the protagonists, Gothic works terrify by showing readers the evils that inhabit our world.Ĭharacters in Gothic fiction often find themselves in unfamiliar places, as they - and the readers - leave the safe world they knew behind. The Gothic is a genre of spiritual uncertainty: it creates encounters with the sublime and constantly explores events beyond explanation. Past and present fold in on each other - even as man’s technological advancements seem to make him increasingly powerful, history continues to haunt. Contemporary technology and science are set alongside ancient backdrops, and this strange pairing helps create the pervasive sense of uncanniness and estrangement that the Gothic is known for. As such, it often takes place during moments of historical transition, from the end of the medieval era to the beginnings of industrialization. Gothic fiction is rooted in blending the old with the new. It draws its name and aesthetic inspiration from the Gothic architectural style of the Middle Ages ⁠- crumbling castles, isolated aristocratic estates, and spaces of decrepitude are familiar settings within the genre. The Gothic is characterized by its darkly picturesque scenery and its eerie stories of the macabre. It’s a genre that places strong emphasis on intense emotion, pairing terror with pleasure, death with romance. Read on as we trace the history of Gothic literature and introduce ten essential reads that have haunted us for centuries.Įmerging in Europe in the 18th century, Gothic literature grew out of the Romantic literary movement. Here’s our guide to the gloomiest and most brooding of genres. Its tales shock you out of your everyday experiences - but they’re so uncannily enthralling you may well wish to remain in their realms of fright forever.

Haunted houses, dark romances, shadowy corridors, windswept moors… Gothic literature has everything you could ever want in a tale of terror. A Guide to Gothic Literature: The Top 10 Books You Have to Read

Ego is the enemy genre