Author Archives: SamHirst

5 lesser-known Early Gothic Novels

‘Lesser known’ is always relative. For some, the staples of that early Gothic period (The Castle of Otranto, The Mysteries of Udolpho, The Monk and Melmoth the Wanderer) are new acquaintances. For others, I could bring up the most obscure authors (T. J. Horsley-Curties and Elizabeth Meeke anyone?) and they’d scoff at the obviousness ofContinue reading “5 lesser-known Early Gothic Novels”

Bibliography – Medical Discourse and the Gothic

Dr Madeline Potter has shared her bibliography from this week’s Romancing the Gothic talk on Medical Discourse and the Gothic. Bibliography Primary Texts Ann Radcliffe – The Mysteries of Udolpho – 1794 Anne Rice – The Vampire Chronicles – 1976-2018 Bram Stoker – Dracula – 1897 James Blundell – Experiments on the Transfusion of BloodContinue reading “Bibliography – Medical Discourse and the Gothic”

How to be a Russian Gothic Hero

In previous episodes of this guide to the Gothic life, we’ve looked at both how to recognise and how to become a Gothic hero (or villain – there’s no judgement here) in a general sense. Today’s guide is for the connoisseur who has already developed some expertise in Gothic living. Stretch your wings. Explore yourContinue reading “How to be a Russian Gothic Hero”

Shtoss – Lermontov – 1841

This is a translation of Lermontov’s unfinished tale ‘Shtoss’. There’s a play on words here. Shtoss is provided (perhaps) as a name. But Shto-s also means what (this ‘s’ is an added feature common at the period) so when the stranger is asked for his name, the answer leaves the reader uncertain. This is aContinue reading “Shtoss – Lermontov – 1841”

Russian Roulette: The Russian Gothic-Fantastic as a game you just can’t win

Primary Sources Anton Chekhov – ‘The Black Monk’ – 1893 Elena Gan – ‘Society’s Judgement’ – 1841 Vsevolod Garshin – ‘The Red Flower’ – 1883 Nikolai Gogol – Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka – 1832 Nikolai Gogol – ‘The Nose’ – 1836 Nikolai Gogol – The Overcoat – 1842 Nikolai Gogol – ‘The Portrait’Continue reading “Russian Roulette: The Russian Gothic-Fantastic as a game you just can’t win”

Tamara – Mikhail Lermontov

There in Daryala’s deep chasm, Where the Terek flows through the gloom, A tower, mouldering and ancient, Black against dark cliffs did loom. In that tower tall and so narrow Tsaritsa Tamara lived still, As beautiful as heaven’s best angel Sly and cruel as a devil from hell. Through the dreary fogs of midnight FromContinue reading “Tamara – Mikhail Lermontov”

Marko Yacubovich – Alexander Pushkin

In 1835 Pushkin published a collection called ‘Songs of the Western Slavs’ and included among its numbers was a vampire poem, featuring the Vurdalak. The poem clearly borrows from or was influenced by Prosper Mérimée. The following is a very rough translation. Marko Yakubovich sat by the gate, Before him sat Zoya his wife WhileContinue reading “Marko Yacubovich – Alexander Pushkin”

The Patented Guide to Becoming a Gothic Dark Hero

Do you struggle with being too bland? Constantly doing everyday activities like ‘working’ and ‘cooking’? Is the number of people who tut under their breaths and mutter in hushed tones as you pass distressingly small? Have you failed to commit even one signal crime to blast your soul for the duration of the withered yearsContinue reading “The Patented Guide to Becoming a Gothic Dark Hero”

“¡Bruja! The allure of the gothic witch in Mexican horror film” – Bibliography

Today’s bibliography was provided by Saturday’s speaker Valeria Villegas Lindval. Some of the sources are in English and some in Spanish. To start – here’s a list of Valeria’s own publications! •“Gigi Saul Guerrero and her Latin American female monsters” in Women Make Horror: Filmmaking, Feminism and Genre, edited by edited by Dr. Alison Peirse (forthcoming 2020Continue reading ““¡Bruja! The allure of the gothic witch in Mexican horror film” – Bibliography”