Hello! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving (for my American compatriots) or late November if that’s more your cup of tea. I’ve been particularly busy with my new puppy, playing with…and training…and housebreaking…and teaching her not to chew/ destroy everything in sight. Not to mention celebrating with family and friends.
It’s been a busy couple of weeks!
In the upcoming weeks, we’re going to delve into five different types of Gothic writing:
- Southern Gothic
- English Gothic
- German Gothic
- Modern Gothic
- Gothic Romance
When I wrote my first work of fiction, I learned that what I was writing belonged in the German gothic category. It wasn’t something that I set out to do. Rather, I had a very specific story to tell and it just so happened that I discovered a largely unknown sub-genre where it fits. That sparked my interest in understanding more about how to differentiate between the different styles under the Gothic umbrella.
Of course, there’s some overlap between these, but there are also some distinct differences. There are the superficial differences such as crumbling castle or plantation or old house on the outskirts of town. But more importantly, there are differences in what the authors in each of these sub-genres is attempting to explore.
I think it will surprise you (it surprised me) to discover the many -often mainstream- historical writers who are considered to be part of the Gothic genre. For example: authors such as Tennessee Williams, William Faulkner and Flannery O’Connor, all of whom wrote in the Southern Gothic category.
I’ll keep it short for this week – I have to go check on the puppy – but come back next week for a look at what makes the Southern Gothic genre so distinct!
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