The Gothic servant’s life is a perilous lot. We are all too often swept up in the fortunes of the owner of whatever mansion/castle/ruined abbey we’re currently lodging in. These fortunes range from the inconvenient and untimely appearance of giant limbs, to capture by bandits, death in a skirmish, imprisonment, and, worst of all, hearingContinue reading “The Survival Guide to Being a Gothic Servant”
Author Archives: SamHirst
June Daily Content
Romancing the Gothic is taking a holiday in June but never fear! There will still be content provided. I will be uploading and releasing daily pre-prepared content. If you already support the project via ko-fi (preferred) or patreon, you’ll have access to all the resources. You can also support via ko-fi as a one-off orContinue reading “June Daily Content”
Live Gothic Classes – Limited Places
Next week, I am pre-recording June content, including a series of classes on: The Female Gothic The Eighteenth Century Gothic The Northern Gothic Jamaica Inn and the Adaptation of Gothic Romance Monstrous Men in the Gothic There are limited paid places available to come to the live class (10 people) which will be interactive (althoughContinue reading “Live Gothic Classes – Limited Places”
Call for Submissions – Gothic Monsters Day- 29th May
The Romancing the Gothic project runs a monthly ‘Day of Creation’. It includes workshops and author, art and film showcases. It’s free for all and you can attend as much or as little as you want. This month we’re looking for art and writing for showcases and workshops. All opportunities receive a small payment andContinue reading “Call for Submissions – Gothic Monsters Day- 29th May”
Weekend Classes – 15th and 16th May
This weekend we’re joined by two great speakers. If you’d like to sign up for the classes (for free), you can do so here On Saturday, we’re joined by Susanne Schwertfeger for a class on ‘Illustrating the ‘Gothic Canon’ – Between Adaption and Invention’ On Sunday 16th, we’re joined by Vicky Brewster to talk aboutContinue reading “Weekend Classes – 15th and 16th May”
Weekend Classes – 8th and 9th May
This weekend we’re joined by two excellent speakers to talk about two very different topics indeed! You can sign up here for free. You can support the project here (one-off or monthly) and links will be provided to support the speakers individually. On Saturday 8th, we’re joined at 10am and 6pm BST by Neil CocksContinue reading “Weekend Classes – 8th and 9th May”
The Society for Real Vampires present the authentic Guide to Vampirism
The recent publication of Byronic Vampire Society’s ‘Guide to Becoming a Gothic Vampire‘ is a step too far in that society’s egregious attempts to overturn the time-honoured traditions of vampirism. While they may glory in ‘sex-appeal’, a ‘brooding mystique’ and ‘finding meaning’, they reject the very essence of our existence. A grievous insult to ourContinue reading “The Society for Real Vampires present the authentic Guide to Vampirism”
‘Political Vampires’ from The London Magazine – 1732
This short passage is an early piece detailing some of the information about the famed Arnold Paole case. It is perhaps just as interesting for the insight it gives us into exactly how long vampyres have been read or used as political metaphors. We can also the beginnings of the link between the vampiric figureContinue reading “‘Political Vampires’ from The London Magazine – 1732”
Extract on vampires from ‘The Travels of Three Gentleman’ 1733 (published 1745)
This extract is from ‘The Travels of Three English Gentlemen, from Venice to Hamburgh, being the grand Tour of Germany, in the Year 1734. MS Never before published. A Journey from Goritia to Laubach, or Lubianz, the Metropolis of Carniola’ which was first published as part of the Harleian Miscellany collection in The Harleain MiscellanyContinue reading “Extract on vampires from ‘The Travels of Three Gentleman’ 1733 (published 1745)”
Extract on ‘vampires’ from ‘The Antidote to Atheisme’ – Henry More – 1653 (1655 edition)
This extracts is taken from the 1655 edition of The Antidote to Atheism which adds extra material. It involves some elements we might now consider standard and an unusual transformation. Again, the term ‘vampire’ is not used but this text provides an early model of a walking corpse/corporeal ghost which follows the same pattern asContinue reading “Extract on ‘vampires’ from ‘The Antidote to Atheisme’ – Henry More – 1653 (1655 edition)”
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