A Guide for Getting into the Gothic

Maybe when you hear the word gothic your mind goes to cold autumn nights and spooky noises in the dead of winter. However, for whatever reason, I’ve always found myself reading gothic fiction as the sun begins to break through the miserable chill of UK weather. Perhaps it’s the distance from the content, a nice sunny sky makes the creepy figures in the dark seem less threatening but like lots of people I read gothic fiction to feel that chill down my spine.  So, as the weather does begin to, hopefully, get warmer I thought I’d use this week's blog post to give some reading suggestions to those who are wanting to find their way into the world of the gothic. 

To start with you arrive at the abandoned house…

I think it’s best to start with something classic. A book that encompasses all things gothic fiction. It’s a simple recipe. You’ll need; a remote manor, a tragic history of the surrounding area and of course lots and lots of mist. ‘The Woman in Black’ by Susan Hill is a book I couldn’t recommend enough. The book is a classic ghost story that follows Arthur Kipps, a solicitor who is tasked with sorting the affairs of Alice Drablow, a woman who has died and left behind Eel marsh house. At her funeral Arthur spots a woman dressed in black and during his stay at Eel Marsh house, this woman continues to haunt him. It is a story of revenge and heartbreak all wrapped up in a gothic bow. I know lots of people may be familiar with the film but in my opinion the book is far better. Hill does a brilliant job at keeping you on edge as a reader by hiding things in the dark with her writing. I won’t spoil anything because you should definitely read it yourself. 

Then strange noises and visions appear…

‘The Haunting of Hill House’ by Shirley Jackson is another classic in the gothic genre. If you want a big, haunted house full of strange, paranoid people, this is the book for you. Hill House is rumoured to be haunted and Dr Montague wants to investigate. He finds a group of people who have all had ‘haunting’ experiences and brings them to Hill House. Including our protagonist Eleanor, a lonely woman living in the shadow of her controlling sister's life. At the house strange sounds begin to rattle through the halls and it is Eleanor who is most affected. However, is it the paranoia that affects Eleanor’s behaviour rather than ghosts? Is it the pressure from those around her or perhaps, could it be the house itself? This is one of those books where you can't help but read it quickly. Jackson is able to intensely tap into the psyche of her characters; you find yourself behind the eyes of Eleanor. You feel her frustrations, her glimpses of joy and fears of judgement and loneliness. This is more than just a ghost story, much of the fear comes from the characters and their real emotions. If you enjoy this book I’d recommend reading ‘The Shining’ as well, and perhaps ‘Carrie’ by Stephen King. It’s always interesting to see where the inspiration behind some great horror fiction comes from. 

Then maybe you lose your mind… 

If you think your job is stressful then think again. ‘The Turn of The Screw’ by Henry James follows a young, inexperienced governess as she arrives at a large country home, Bly. She soon realises she is out of her depth and has been left with a huge responsibility of the house and the two small children in her charge. This only becomes more stressful when the ghosts of the former valet and governess begin to appear and seem to intend harm towards the children. I found this a very stressful read, it’s just about the worst few weeks in a job I can imagine. Like lots of gothic writers, James creates a feeling of suspense with every corner that the governess turns. The stress we feel through her is both from supernatural influences but also the immense pressure to protect the house and the children. Throughout reading the book, the governess' mental state seems to dwindle, leading her to some potentially fatal decisions. So if the stress of work is something that keeps you up at night, maybe give James's novel a read.