Late Victorian Gothic Tales (Oxford World’s Classics)
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The Victorian fin de siècle: the era of Decadence, The Yellow Book, the New Woman, the scandalous Oscar Wilde, the Empire on which the sun never set. This heady brew was caught nowhere better than in the revival of the Gothic tale in the late Victorian age, where the undead walked and evil curses, foul murder, doomed inheritance and sexual menace played on the stretched nerves of the new mass readerships. This anthology collects together some of the most famous examples of the Gothic tale in the 1890s, with stories by Arthur Conan Doyle, Vernon Lee, Henry James and Arthur Machen, as well as some lesser known yet superbly chilling tales from the era. The introduction explores the many reasons for the Gothic revival, and how it spoke to the anxieties of the moment.
ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World’s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford’s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
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Additional information
| Publisher | OUP Oxford (26 Feb. 2009) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 282 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 9780199538874 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0199538874 |
| Dimensions | 19.56 x 12.7 x 1.78 cm |
by Heather Harding
Good condition
by Maria Armstrong
Bought as a gift, they loved it. Very quirky book but perfect for anyone whose a fan of the darker Victorian times
by mark schwalbe
good
by Catherine Roche
good study to begin your journey into Gothic literature. Mr Luckhurst is an expert on issues related to the literature
Highly recommended
by Chris
This is a fantastic book. A true classic page turner you cannot go wrong purchasing this book. I am a very happy customer
by Amazon Customer
Perfect
by Ivan’s choice
This 2015 reprint edition of late Victorian Gothic tales is a wonderful collection as the editor has chosen not only the big names of the period like Henry James, Oscar Wilde, Rudyard Kipling, Arthur Conan Doyle but also included some lesser known writers.
Consider the fact that the book is a light-weight edition ( I have chosen not to use the word anthology as it contains 12 tales only), most of them are easy reading because the tales are at most 40 pages long. As the editor says in the introduction, the selection here has “diversity” and “range”.
Oscar Wilde’s Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime easily stands out as the most fluid story and as a late Victorian genius, he effortlessly turns a murder story very humorous and more respectable than it is. There is something very charming in his prose writing.
Kipling’s short story is widely anthologized piece. His story is quite readable as it involves or demands cultural understanding in the late 19th century when Queen Victoria was also the figurehead of there. The writhing and uncontrollable shivers of the victim is more likely an unknown effect of poor hygiene but in those days, the story surely would give a spooky experience.
Among the tales, my pick of 2nd best is Arthur Conan Doyle’s Lady Sannox, which is in a way, both comical and tragic because the famous doctor has done something foolish enough to disfigure the woman he loves as well as tarnish his own professional reputation by a sudden fit of greed. Unlike other tales in the collection, the story is less “murderous”.
The Dak Bungalow of Dakor is typical of the uncanny type: two English ladies travelling in the Indian continent loses their way and are forced to stay in a deserted house in which they have mysterious nightmares. It turns out the nightmares are a reminder of true crime committed there: a young man at the station was murdered 7 years ago. Typical plot but worthwhile to read.
Other than the wonder tales, I particularly like the photo used on the cover: an owl in front of a big mirror. Any reader is sure to be impressed with such spookiness.
by Ellison F
This is an excellent collection of lesser known short stories by authors both familiar and unfamiliar. A strongly recommended addition for enthusiasts of gothic tales. This is a book that will keep you awake all night, just in case that noise you hear is not the cat, or the radiator, but something from your worst nightmares. Enjoy.