The Victorian Gothic: An Edinburgh Companion - Paperback

by Andrew Smith (Editor), William Hughes (Editor)

The first multi-disciplinary scholarly consideration of the Victorian Gothic These 14 chapters, each written by an acknowledged expert in the field, provide an invaluable insight into the complex and various Gothic forms of the nineteenth century. Covering a range of diverse contexts, the chapters focus on science, medicine, Queer theory, imperialism, nationalism, and gender. Together with further chapters on the ghost story, realism, the fin de siècle, pulp fictions, sensation fiction, and the Victorian way of death, the Companion provides the most complete overview of the Victorian Gothic to date.The book is an essential resource for students and scholars working on the Gothic, Victorian literature and culture, and critical theory.Key Features*First multi-authored thorough exploration of the Victorian Gothic*Original research in all chapters*Sets the agenda for future scholarship in the field*Pedagogically awareKey WordsVictorian, Gothic, Science, Gender, Nationalism, Death, Supernatural, Ghost, Death

Front Jacket

AUTHOR-APPROVED BLURB 'This collection of essays should be a "must" for those whose interests focus on the late Victorian cultural world, as it is observed through the lense of the Gothic. In private or in academic and public libraries, this book will doubtless enjoy a long shelf life.' Benjamin F. Fisher, Professor Emeritus, University of Mississippi 'Very professionally edited by two world leaders in Gothic studies, this collection offers well-written, sharply documented, and "heart of the matter" accounts by experts on each significant realm of the Victorian Gothic, along with an excellent bibliography of further readings. It is therefore a highly valuable book for students of the Gothic world-wide.' Jerrold E. Hogle, University Distinguished Professor, The University of Arizona The first multi-disciplinary scholarly consideration of the Victorian Gothic These 14 chapters, each written by an acknowledged expert in the field, provide an invaluable insight into the complex and various Gothic forms of the nineteenth century. Covering a range of diverse contexts, the chapters focus on science, medicine, Queer theory, imperialism, nationalism, and gender. Together with further chapters on the ghost story, realism, the fin de siècle, pulp fictions, sensation fiction, and the Victorian way of death, the Companion provides the most complete overview of the Victorian Gothic to date. The book is an essential resource for students and scholars working on the Gothic, Victorian literature and culture, and critical theory. Andrew Smith is Reader in Nineteenth Century English Literature at the University of Sheffield. His published books include The Ghost Story 1840-1920: A Cultural History (2010), Gothic Literature (2007, revised 2013), Victorian Demons (2004) and Gothic Radicalism (2000). William Hughes is Professor of Gothic Studies at Bath Spa University. His published books include Beyond Dracula (2000), two student guides to Dracula, and The Historical Dictionary of Gothic Literature (2013). He is the founder editor of Gothic Studies, the refereed journal of the International Gothic Association.

Author Biography

Andrew Smith is Professor of Nineteenth-Century English Literature at the University of Sheffield where he co-directs the Centre for the History of the Gothic. He is the author or editor of over 20 published books including Gothic Death 1740-1914: A Literary History (Manchester University Press, 2016), The Ghost Story 1840-1920: A Cultural History (Manchester University Press, 2010), Gothic Literature (Edinburgh University Press, 2007, revised 2013), Victorian Demons (Manchester University Press, 2004) and Gothic Radicalism (Macmillan, 2000). He is a past president of the International Gothic Association.

William Hughes is Professor of Literature in English at the University of Macau, where he leads teaching in Victorian studies and Gothic literature. He is the author of more than twenty books in the fields of Victorian studies, the Gothic and medical history, including The Dome of Thought: Phrenology and the Victorian Popular Imagination (Manchester University Press, 2022), Key Concepts in the Gothic (Edinburgh University Press, 2018) and That Devil's Trick: Hypnotism and the British Popular Imagination (Manchester University Press, 2015). He has also co-edited a number of important essay collections, including, with Andrew Smith, Suicide and the Gothic (Manchester University Press, 2019) and with Ruth Heholt, Gothic Britain: Dark Places in the Margins and Provinces of the British Isles (University of Wales press, 2018).