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”
Author Archives: SamHirst
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”
Romancing the Gothic: Heroines, Wives and Demons – Bibliography
Primary Texts Women’s Weird ed. by Melissa Edmundson – 2019 Joseph Addison – Evidence of the Christian Religion – (1772) Darcie Little Badger – Elatsoe – 2020 Madeleine Brent – Moonraker’s Bride – 1973 Charlotte Bronte – Jane Eyre – 1847 Emily Bronte – Wuthering Heights – 1847 Edmund Burke – A Philosophical Enquiry intoContinue reading “Romancing the Gothic: Heroines, Wives and Demons – Bibliography”
Zofloya and the Female Gothic
This is a series of ‘blogs’ (hmmm) which I wrote as a baby scholar during my Masters. I’ve been rereading it today as I finalise my lesson slides for tomorrow. It’s an investigation of the term Female Gothic and its legitimacy through an exploration of Charlotte Dacre’s Zofloya and the simple question of whether orContinue reading “Zofloya and the Female Gothic”
Rethinking the Gothic Romance: Georgette Heyer – Bibliography
Primary Texts Jane Austen – Northanger Abbey – 1817 Charlotte Bronte – Jane Eyre – 1847 Georgette Heyer – Sylvester, or The Wicked Uncle – 1957 Georgette Heyer – The Talisman Ring – 1936 Georgette Heyer – The Toll Gate – 1954 Georgette Heyer – These Old Shades – 1926 Lady Caroline Lamb – GlenarvonContinue reading “Rethinking the Gothic Romance: Georgette Heyer – Bibliography”
Romancing the Gothic 