The Gothic

This guide provides an overview of the most significant issues and debates in Gothic studies. * Provides an overview of the most significant issues and debates in Gothic studies. * Explains the origins and development of the term Gothic. * Explores the evolution of the Gothic in both literary and non-literary forms, including art, architecture and film. * Features authoritative readings of key works, ranging from Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto to Bret Easton Ellis's American Psycho. * Considers recurrent concerns of the Gothic such as persecution and paranoia, key motifs such as the haunted castle, and figures such as the vampire and the monster. * Includes a chronology of key Gothic texts, including fiction and film from the 1760s to the present day, and a comprehensive bibliography.