Although I had intended to post about the next tour in November (to be held in January), I’ve decided it’s time for a hiatus from The Classics Circuit. For those of you who follow my personal blog, you’ll know that I’m currently pregnant with my second child. Baby is due at the end of February, and in order to make life a little less stressful, I’m ready to take a break from The Classics Circuit now (as evidenced by the fact that I never got the next tour information up!).

I still really enjoy running The Classics Circuit. Assuming all goes well and I adjust to a newborn in a timely fashion, I do hope to pull together another tour by next summer or fall, but given how I’ve not yet experienced life with TWO children, we’ll have to see how things go.

I, of course, still love the classics, and I hope you decide to continue reading them on your own. If you are interested in community projects similar to The Classics Circuit, here are some that may appeal to you. You can also browse A Novel Challenge for more reading projects, challenges, and readalongs. If you are hosting a reading challenge (classic-focused or otherwise), fill out a form on that site to be included on the listings.

In the meantime, I hope you keep reading the greats of literature!

• The Beauty of Eclectisicm is hosting a 2012 Medieval Reading Challenge. She encourages you to read 4, 8 or 12 works written between 400 and 1550 B.C.E. during the year 2012. She provides reading list ideas on her site.
• Sarah Reads Too Much is hosting a 2012 Back to the Classics Challenge. She encourages you to read 9 different classic works in 9 different categories during the year 2012. There is a prize drawing for those who complete the challenge before the end of the year.
• Howling Frog Books is hosting a 2012 Greek Classics Challenge. She has four different reading levels you can sign up at, from 1 Greek classic to 11+. She encourages you to post a sign-up post on your blog and to post on your blog when you’ve finished a work for the challenge.
• Fig and Thistle is hosting a January 2012 Charles Dickens Month in honor of his 200th birthday. She encourages you to post about something related to Charles Dickens on each Tuesday in January (there are five). Those who post on Tuesdays will be entered into a drawing and mentioned on the round-up post on February 7 (Dickens’ actual birthday).

I found these challenges and projects on the A Novel Challenge blog.

Are you also hosting a classics-themed yearly or mothly project?

I know there are more out there. Let me know below, with a link to your post about the challenge, and I’ll add it to this site.

Happy reading in 2012!

Full list of tour stops after the jump.

Monday, October 17
Devouring Texts  posted on Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog posted on The Devil’s Elixir by E.T.A. Hoffman
2606 Books and counting… posted on The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole

Tuesday, October 18
She Is Too Fond Of Books posted on The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
BaffledBooks posted on The Old English Baron by Clara Reeve
The Story Girl posted on Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Every Book and Cranny posted on Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Wednesday, October 19
Christa’s Hooked on Books posted on The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
Fleur Fisher in her world posted on The Two Emilys by Sophia Lee
things mean a lot posted on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s story “The Sandman”
Sasha & The Silverfish posted on Zastrozzi by Percy Bysshe Shelley and Transformation by Mary Shelley

Thursday, October 20
Aesop to Oz posted on The Vampyre  by John Polidori
Simpler Pastimes posted on The Castle of Wolfenbach by Eliza Parsons
Your Move, Dickens posted on Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Friday, October 21
Bread Crumb Reads posted on Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
One Librarian’s Book Reviews  posted on The Mysteries of Udolfo by Ann Radcliffe
Book Clutter posted on The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole
A Literary Odyssey posted on The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg

Saturday, October 22
Shelf Love  posted on The Romance of the Forest by Anne Radcliffe
Tony’s Reading List posted on Die Elixiere des Teufels’ (“The Devil’s Elixir”) by E.T.A. Hoffmann

Sunday, October 23
Fig and Thistle posted on either Clermont by Regina Maria Roche
Farewell, Office posted on The Monk by Matthew Lewis
Desperate Reader posted on The Castle of Otranto or Nightmare Abbey

Monday, October 24
Chrisbookarama posted on The Castle of Wolfenbach by Eliza Parsons
A Few More Pages posted on a few short stories by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Books and Chocolate posted on Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Tuesday, October 25
eclectic / eccentric posted on The Monk by Matthew Lewis
She Reads Novels posted on A Sicilian Romance by Ann Radcliffe
Laura’s Reviews posted on a few Gothic American short stories

Wednesday, October 26
bibliographing posted on The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe
Gudrun’s Tights posted on The Witch of Ravensworth by George Brewer

Thursday, October 27
Literary Lindsey posted on Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
The Reading Life posted on “The Terrible Vengeance” by Nikolai Gogol
Becky’s Book Reviews posted on Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Friday, October 28
Kristi Loves Books posted on Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Chew & Digest Books posted on Jane Talbot by Charles Brockden Brown
pages turned posted on Caleb Williams by William Godwin

Saturday, October 29
Ardent Reader posted on Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Truth Beauty Freedom and Books posted on Vathek by William Beckford and The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole
Redeeming Qualities posted on Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne by Anne Radcliffe
The Blue Bookcase posted on Emmeline by Charlotte Smith

Sunday, October 30
Jenny Loves to Read posted on The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe
Iris on Books posted on Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
seagreen reader posted on Wieland by Charles Brockden Brown

Monday, October 31
Book Lust posted on Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
A Room of One’s Own posted on Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

It’s officially October, which means our Gothic Literature Classics Circuit tour will be coming very soon, beginning in just two weeks. Below (after the jump), you will find the schedule for this very full tour!

I hope you enjoy following the tour as it comes. It’s bound to bring us into the proper mood for this Halloween season.

As always, if you note a mistake on this schedule or if you change your mind about the book you’d like to post on, please send me an email at rebecca[at]rebeccareid[dot]com.

When you do post feel free to send a link to @classicscirc on twitter and I’ll retweet it for others to find!

Monday, October 17

A Striped Armchair posting on The Old English Baron by Clara Reeve or Wieland by Charles Brockden Brown

Devouring Texts  posting on Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog posting on The Devil’s Elixir by E.T.A. Hoffman

2606 Books and counting… posting on The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole

Tuesday, October 18

She Is Too Fond Of Books posting on The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo

BaffledBooks posting on The Old English Baron by Clara Reeve

The Story Girl posting on Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Every Book and Cranny posting on Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and/or The Italian by Anne Radcliffe

Wednesday, October 19

Christa’s Hooked on Books posting on The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo or Mysteries of Udolpho by Anne Radcliffe

Fleur Fisher in her world posting on The Two Emilys by Sophia Lee

things mean a lot posting on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s story “The Sandman” and other Gothic tales

Sasha & The Silverfish posting on Zastrozzi by Percy Bysshe Shelley and Transformation by Mary Shelley

Thursday, October 20

Stiletto Storytime posting on The Monk by Lewis

Aesop to Oz posting on The Vampyre  by John Polidori and  Caleb Williams by William Godwin

Simpler Pastimes posting on The Castle of Wolfenbach by Eliza Parsons

Your Move, Dickens posting on Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Friday, October 21

Bread Crumb Reads posting on Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

One Librarian’s Book Reviews  posting on something Mysteries of Udolfo by Ann Radcliffe

Book Clutter posting on The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole

A Literary Odyssey posting on The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg

Saturday, October 22

Shelf Love  posting on The Romance of the Forest by Anne Radcliffe

Tony’s Reading List posting on Die Elixiere des Teufels’ (“The Devil’s Elixir”) by E.T.A. Hoffmann

Sunday, October 23

Fig and Thistle posting on either Clermont by Regina Maria Roche or Melmoth the Wanderer  by Charles Mautrin

Farewell, Office posting on The Monk by Matthew Lewis

Desperate Reader posting on The Castle of Otranto or Nightmare Abbey

Monday, October 24

Chrisbookarama posting on The Castle of Wolfenbach by Eliza Parsons

A Few More Pages posting on a few short stories by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Books and Chocolate posting on Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

An Armchair by the Sea posting on The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo

Tuesday, October 25

eclectic / eccentric posting on The Monk by Matthew Lewis

Eclectic Book Readings posting on Frankenstein by Mary Shelly or Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

She Reads Novels posting on A Sicilian Romance by Ann Radcliffe

Laura’s Reviews posting on a few Gothic American short stories

Wednesday, October 26

bibliophilia posting on Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen or The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo

bibliographing posting on The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe

Gudrun’s Tights posting on The Witch of Ravensworth by George Brewer

Thursday, October 27

Literary Lindsey posting on Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

The Reading Life posting on “The Terrible Vengeance” and “Viy” by Nikolai Gogol

Becky’s Book Reviews posting on Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Friday, October 28

Kristi Loves Books posting on Frankenstein by Mary Shelley or The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo or Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Chew & Digest Books posting on Jane Talbot by Charles Brockden Brown

pages turned posting on Caleb Williams by William Godwin

Saturday, October 29

Ardent Reader posting on Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne by Anne Radcliffe or Claremont by Regina Maria Roche or Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Truth Beauty Freedom and Books posting on Vathek by William Beckford and/or The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole

Redeeming Qualities posting on Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne by Anne Radcliffe

The Blue Bookcase posting on Emmeline by Charlotte Smith

Sunday, October 30

Jenny Loves to Read posting on The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe

Iris on Books posting on Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

seagreen reader posting on Wieland by Charles Brockden Brown

Monday, October 31

Le Vanity Victorienne posting on The Vampyre by John Polidori

Book Lust posting on Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

A Room of One’s Own posting on Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

I’m defining the era as pre-1840. The following information may give you an idea where to begin as you search for what work you’d like to read for the tour.  You may also want to read the LitGothic page for some additional ideas. Some people may also be interested in the gothic novels that Catherine Moreland references in Austen’s Northanger Abbey. You can find some information about those novels here.

Keep in mind that although the literary gothic extends to present day, we’re only counting books or stories written before 1840 for this current tour.

Other than the year written guideline, I don’t want to be too picky: if the work you want to read is not on this list but if you think it fits the gothic tradition, then go ahead and select it!

The button for this tour is an image I took in September 2005. It is a gargoyle on the side of Notre Dame. Feel free to use it to promote the tour on your blog.
<br /> <a href=”http://classics.rebeccareid.com/tag/gothic-literature” _mce_href=”http://classics.rebeccareid.com/tag/gothic-literature”><img class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-1524″ title=”Gargoyle on Notre Dame” src=”http://classics.rebeccareid.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/gothiclit1.jpg” _mce_src=”http://classics.rebeccareid.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/gothiclit1.jpg” alt=”" width=”200″ height=”126″ /></a>

How the tour works: If you are new to the Classics Circuit, please read this paragraph so you may have a better understanding of how the tour operates. First, make sure you sign up via the form, not in the comments. You must have a blog to be a tour participant. On the sign up form, please indicate either which days you want to post, or which days you are unable to post on your blog. Someone from the Classics Circuit will email you your assigned date. We will post a schedule on this blog linking to all the participating blogs. On your assigned day in your time zone, please post about your selected work. If this is not clear, feel free to email rebecca[at]rebeccareid[dot]com. Thanks for your interest in joining the Circuit! If you do not have a blog, I still encourage you to follow the tour once it begins in October.

Disclaimer: I am not an expert or student of gothic literature at all. I am simply a reader of classics (like the rest of you) that decided to compile a list of what I’ve found classified as gothic literature, pre-1840s. If you are a gothic literature expert, please share what I’ve missed in the comments for those that come along in the future.

Sign up is closed.

Earliest Gothic Novels

One of the earliest and most influential novels on the development of the gothic novels was The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole. His friend William Beckford also wrote a gothic novel, Vathek, and both men created gothic revival architecture houses to play on the impact of gothic fiction as a new development. Horace Walpole’s home, Strawberry Hill, still stands and is open to visitors.

The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole (1764). Claiming to be an ancient Italian manuscript recently uncovered, Otranto centers on Manfred, a cruel Lord of a castle, in a tale with secret tunnels, long-lost children, and death bed confessions.

• “The original Gothic novel sets a standard of melodrama that soap operas would be proud to follow. And I say that in a good way. With hidden sons, love triangles, returning from the dead and ghosts and giants abounding, this quick read is good for a glimpse into what shaped the Gothic era of writing.  … If you’re interested in Gothic literature, why not read the source? It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s bound to entertain you. Four stars.” Sly Sionnach on LibraryThing

The Old English Baron by Clara Reeve (1778).  Originally published anonymously as The Champion of Virture. A castle baron returns to England to find his estate usurped, spawning a series of revelations, horrors, and betrayals. (via Wikipedia)

• “[It] is more of a Romantic murder mystery than a supernatural story. Yes, there is a ghost, but the crux of the story is a young man of character who finds himself wronged at every turn, but eventually discovers the secrets hidden in his master’s castle. On one hand, a lighter read than “Otranto,” but on the other less of a gothic story and more of a chivalric tale with gothic elements. Four Stars.” Eric Strauss on Goodreads

Vathek by William Beckford (1787). Originally written in French. Inspired by The Arabian Nights, it details the fall of power of an Arabian Caliph who renounces Islam and seeks to gain supernatural powers. (via Wikipedia)

• “Postmodernism has nothing on Vathek. An absolutely bizarre Gothic tale, rich in Orientalism and deviltry. You may think that the modern era has corned the market in strange, difficult texts, but there is truly nothing new under the sun. Vathek is stranger than strange. Four Stars.”  Jack at Goodreads

Zeluco by John Moore (1789). A story about an evil Italian nobleman, as well as a lengthy social commentary.

• Rated Five Stars. John Ervin on Goodreads.
• “The romantic will love to shudder at Udolpho; but those of mature age, who know what human nature is, will take up again and again Dr. Moore’s Zeluco.” — Anna Lætitia Barbauld. Quoted on book description on Amazon.

Emmeline, or the Orphan of the Castle by Charlotte Smith (1788). A Cinderella story in a gothic castle.

• “A fascinating book, written when the ‘women’s novel’, as satirised in Northanger Abbey, was a mix of moral tract (where the good are good and the bad are bad, and the consequences are mostly just in the end); romantic novel (swooning, duelling and beautiful countryside) and – just – character driven plot…” otterley at LibraryThing

The Ghost-Seer by Friedrich Schiller (1787-9). Unfinished by the author at his death, this novel was still incredibly popular, featuring necromancy and conspiracies.

• “Schiller’s prose is, like his fellow Romantics, alluring and powerful, a work of sheer beauty. The imagery he creates through setting and plot is nothing short of astonishing. It casts a spell which can not be broken until the very end when the mystery is known to all.” Gertrude and Victoria at Goodreads

Later Eighteenth Century Gothic Novels

One of the most prominent novelists at the end of the 1700s was Ann Radcliffe, who wrote in the tradition of the female gothic and was influential in the rise in popularity of the gothic novel. Among many other authors, significant books were written by the authors Eliza Parsons and Regina Maria Roche.

Ann Radcliffe

The Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne. A Highland Story (1789). Passions of the characters lead the plot, but the Scottish landscape and the castles are also central.

• “Hilarious, though I don’t know what I would have thought of it had I not read it during university with a professor to explain the genre, its value, and its intent. The symbolism is laughably obvious and wonderfully exaggerated. I don’t even remember much of the story, but that’s not really the book’s point. Its point is simply supposed to spook you and to get you all caught up in the characters’ many passions. As my professor taught me, this is the original cheap romance novel, and it should be loved for being just that. Four Stars.” ChiaraBeth at LibraryThing

A Sicilian Romance (1790). A history of fallen Italian aristocrats, as related by a tourist who heard the story from a monk.

• “A wonderful example of Gothic literature. I really enjoyed Radcliffe’s style and how she set up the setting in for the whole story, she was able to make me see and feel how the world around the characters looked, the dark cathedral and the twists and turns they all took as the searched it for the “ghost.” The way the author voiced the story, was my favourite part of the whole novel. I almost wished it was thunder storming out as I was reading it, just to make it that much better.” Jules at Jules’ Book Reviews

The Romance of the Forest. (1791). The epitome of a gothic novel: a beautiful orphaned heiress, a dashing hero, and a villain. (via Amazon publisher’s summary)

• “It is a romance novel and adventure in one. A guilty pleasure for young girls whose imaginations had a tendency to run wild. What evil lurked each time they took the carriage out? What unknown spirit lived within the forest? Three Stars.” Gigi at Goodreads

The Mysteries of Udolpho (1794). Orphaned young woman faces supernatural terrors in her house, and becomes prey to an Italian brigand.

• “There is quite a bit to enjoy about The Mysteries of Udolpho.  Radcliffe does conjure up beautiful French and Italian countrysides, creepy castles with labryinthine secret passages, and myriad sunrises and sunsets to admire.  There is a lot of atmosphere in the book and I do appreciate that (ooooh, the black veil, creepy).” Scuffed Slippers and Wormy Books

The Italian (1797). Love, devotion and persecution during the Holy Inquisition. (via Wikipedia)

• “Radcliffe is exceptionally good at creating suspense and in ratchetting up the tension. Her prose is pleasing, and although she’s been criticised for going overboard with the descriptive passages I didn’t find that a problem at all in The Italian. … Despite its faults The Italian is reasonably entertaining. Four stars.” Dfordoom at Goodreads

Others

The Castle of Wolfenbach by Eliza Parsons (1793). A young woman in peril seeks refuge in a gloomy castle.

• “The story speeds along, packed with tales of woe, heroes and villains, titles and society, swooning and fainting, weeping and wailing, swooning and fainting… And eventually, of course, the good are rewarded and the bad are punished. “The Castle of Wolfenbach” isn’t great literature but it is very readable and wonderful entertainment.” “ Fleur Fisher Reads

The Mysterious Warning by Eliza Parsons (1796). After an orphaned young man has been disinherited from his father, he hears a supernatural warning from beyond the grave urging him to flee for his life. (via Amazon publisher summary)

• “It is indeed satisfyingly “horrid,” filled with hideous misdeeds by profligate nobles, abductions, murders and banditry. Multiple subplots keep the action hot, and Frederick escapes death with remarkable frequency. The smartest character in the book is an admirable servant who foils evil plots and watches over Frederick’s interests.” Patto at Amazon

The Children of the Abbey by Regina Maria Roche (1796). A gothic romance in which two young people are robbed of their inheritance.

• “An excellent piece of work depicting an era where people were described by their character – not physical attributes; where honor and integrity were paramont considerations in personal as well as business matters. Five stars.”  Patricia Covill at Amazon

Clermont by Regina Maria Roche (1798). A young woman lives in seclusion with her father until a mysterious visitor prompts her to search out the truth about him.

• “This was fluff of the finest order-an exquisitely creamy cheesecake-not a single gram of nutritional value, but so very rich and sweet. If ever you’re in a mood to shut your brain off and be simply entertained, even by the cliched and improbable, try Clermont. Four stars.”  Keshena Booker at Goodreads

The Necromancer; or, The Tale of the Black Forest by Ludwig Flammenberg (Carl Friedrich Kahlert) (1794). A mysterious wizard haunts two adventurers. (via Wikipedia)

• No positive reviews found.

The Midnight Bell by Francis Lathom. (1798). A hero seeks to regain his estate after it’s taken from him.

• “I about fell over laughing repeatedly due to the ridiculous situations these characters got into along with just how unappealing any of the characters are. The heroine faints every other chapter. The hero cries at the drop of a hat. The story-telling is all tell and no show. But still, with all of its faults it is very entertaining.” mabrown2 at LibraryThing

Orphan of the Rhine. by Eleanor Sleath (1798). Unlike other gothic novels, the author of this one was herself a Catholic. It deals with a family that has hidden secrets.

• “An Ann Radcliffe wannabe, Sleath treats us to dastardly murders, mysterious monks, shocking discoveries in ruined towers, beleaguered characters with assumed names, last-minute rescues from hideous fates and edifying deathbed scenes. Three stars.”  Patto at Amazon

Turn-of-the-Century Gothic

Around the turn of the century, Matthew Gregory Lewis wrote some significant gothic novels.  In America, Charles Brockden Brown, approached the gothic from a slightly different way.

Matthew Lewis

Lewis was heavily influenced by Ann Radcliffe’s emphasis on the supernatural, but he took things a step farther by describing the gruesome scenes, thus becoming more known as a horror-gothic novelist. In addition to those mentioned below, Lewis also wrote the following: Tales of Terror, The Bravo of Venice (1805), and The Anaconda, from Romantic Tales (1808).

The Monk: a romance (1796). Written before the author turned 20. A well respected monk faces his downfall when he falls for a woman.

• “[This] completely dispels the notion that classics are dull and boring! While I wouldn’t say this was an easy read (due to the 18th century writing style and language you do need to concentrate) it was a real pageturner. … This book has almost every element of the gothic novel that you can think of: ghostly apparitions, haunted castles, ancient monasteries, bad weather, fortune telling gypsies, an evil prioress, dark dungeons and shadowy crypts, witchcraft, magic and pacts with the devil. It’s also very daring for the 18th century; with themes of murder, rape, incest, violence and torture, I can see exactly why it was so controversial in its day.” She Reads Novels

Castle Spectre (1799). A gothic romantic play that takes place in Wales.

• “The reading is made more interesting by Lewis’ own notes throughout, and his finishing appeal to the reader makes me wish to have seen the play back when it was being performed. There are quite a lot of predictable events and characters in the play … but on the whole it was an entertaining read.” Bjorn Andre Haugland at Goodreads

Charles Brockden Brown

One of the most prolific American writers before James Fenimore Cooper, Brown wrote with revolutionary ideas as well as enlightenment scientific ideas. His novels are often characterized as gothic fiction due to his emphasis on the captivity narrative. (via Wikipedia)

Wieland; or The Transformation by Charles Brockden Brown (1798). A tale of horror and mystery among German immigrants in Pennsylvania.

• “Setting a gothic romance among American Quakers proves to be an interesting conceit, as is allowing the swooning heroine to narrate the whole thing herself. … This was not just an enjoyable and unusual execution of the gothic novel, but simply a good read, and a fascinating precursor to other American writers like Edgar Allen Poe.” bibliographing

Arthur Mervyn by Charles Brockden Brown (1799). Terror during the 1793 yellow fever epidemic in Pennsylvanai.

• “The book is also a frightening and enlightening look at human behavior in the face of terror.” Lauren Albert at Goodreads

Ormond; or, the Secret Witness by Charles Brockden Brown (1799). The fall of a Pennsylvania family.

• “this is a gothic tale that explores myriad social controversies in the intense political climate of the late eighteen century, most especially the role of women in society. The plot will keep your interest though the prose can be dense. Three stars.” Emily at Goodreads

Edgar Huntly by Charles Brockden Brown (1799). An American gothic tale about a man who sleepwalks and his entanglement in a murder mystery.

• “A psychological thriller worth every minute of the read!!!!!” Mia at Goodreads

Jane Talbot by Charles Brockden Brown (1801). See below.

• “A series of 70 letters which tell the touching love story of the title character, a young American widow, and Henry Colden, the only son of a wealthy but imperious sire who opposes their union. The events narrated occur in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Japan, Java and Europe of the 1790′s. Another major character is Jane’s adoptive mother who abhors Henry as an unbeliever and (she supposes) profligate who would ruin her daughter. I can’t get over how much I admire the first (and in many respects to this day the greatest) of the Great American Novelists, Charles Brockden Brown!” Mark Stevenson at Goodreads

Others

Zofloya, or, The Moor. A Romance of the Fifteenth Century by Charlotte Dacre aka Rose Matilda (1806). A spoiled daughter in the fifteenth century Italy follows a series of adventures dealing with lust, betrayal and murder.

• “I found Zofloya to be an engrossing page-turner. Part Castle of Otranto, part Caleb Williams, the story of the evil Italian beauty, Victoria, her ill-fated family, and the doomed “innocents” who cross her path is not your typical “damsel in distress” Gothic read.” Laura at Goodreads

Zastrozzi by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1810).  An outlaw obsessed with revenge against his father and half-brother.

• “Quite a good little read.” Everett Darling at Goodreads

Later Pre-Victorian Gothic Novels/Stories

The Devil’s Elixir by E.T.A. Hoffman (1815). A monk finds the devil’s elixir and cannot resist it.

• “Simply the best horror story I’ve ever read, although i’m not much of an horror fan.” Nina at Goodreads

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1818).

• “What is it about Shelley’s story that keeps drawing me back? I think, in part, it’s the depth and substance. The beauty. The horror. The fact that each and every time I read it, I walk away with something new.” Becky’s Book Reviews
• “The story is emotional and it pushes the reader’s feelings toward those of complete and utter despair, both from the Doctor’s perspective and that of the monster’s. The monster himself is not terrifying. He is a lost soul in part a product of his environment. I think that the story is more heartbreaking than it is scary.” Layers of Thought

The Vampyre by John Polidori (1819). The first vampire story, and only 30-35 pages long…

• “Polidori’s tale is short and has a plot so slimline that any introduction would be a spoiler, but it is easy and enjoyable as a read and fascinating for its part in literary history both with its origins …  and with its place as the first in the long line of English language vampire fiction.” Juxtabook
• “On the inside and all the way down to his gooey, undead center, Lord Ruthven is a walking, talking warehouse of evil, corruption and sadism and there is not a single redeeming aspect to his personality. I found the outward angel and the inner devil to be a perfect combination for this eerie, gothic tale. Four stars.” Stephen at Goodreads

Melmoth the Wanderer by Charles Maturin (1820). A cruel villain seeking to get out of his pack with the devil. Charles Maturin was a Church of Ireland clergyman labeled as “eccentric” who wrote a number of gothic novels and plays. This is the most well known (and only one I found in print and with current reviews).

• “This book is already pretty long, but I think it should have been twice its length. A very slow-moving, atmospheric, very well-written story containing stories containing stories. The organization is a little slipshod, and I get the feeling that the author just stopped the story and finished it before he had originally wanted to, but that doesn’t really detract from the MAJESTY of this work.” Clint Kyle at Goodreads

The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg (1824). Part-gothic horror and part psychological mystery, this is a terrifying story of one man’s decent into madness.

• “By turns sinister, terrifying, amusing, fanatical, complex, simple,realistic, supernatural, ludicrous, coarse, lyrical,poetic…All combining to make a wonderful read. Four stars.” Marie on Goodreads

The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo (1831). The deformed bell-ringer of Notre Dame falls for Esmerelda. The novel is gothic in its emphasis on the architecture of Notre Dame.

• “The dark, brood­ing and pun­ish­ing inter­ac­tions between the com­plex char­ac­ters are a mas­tery of sto­ry­telling. The rela­tion­ships of the char­ac­ters with them­selves are also part of this com­plex plot. …  once you get through the descrip­tive sec­tions (I skimmed some of them) you’ll dis­cover a phe­nom­e­nal book which cer­tainly deserves the “clas­sic” stature which has been bestowed upon it.” Man of La Book

Satires of Gothic novels

The Heroine by Eaton Stannard Barrett (1813).

• “This book is a highly amusing parody of the Romantic-era gothic novel and (perhaps unintentionally) of female quixotism. If you can get your hands on it, it’s a good read.” Veronica at Goodreads

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (1818). Catherine Moreland loves reading gothic literature, and tries to place everything she sees and everyone she meets into the gothic context to hilarious consequences.

• “Catherine is an interesting character, and I enjoyed her love for the gothic literature, and was amused by her quest to find her own gothic adventure. This book also has an interesting take on the social class of the time the differences between them.” Jules’ Book Reviews

Nightmare Abbey by Thomas Love Peacock (1818). A ridiculous satire of the romantic poets.

• “Slight, but fun; and all the better, I suspect, if you know your Romantic poets.” Eve’s Alexandria

No Reviews Found

• Horrid Mysteries by Marquis de Grosse (1796). From German. A hero finds himself caught in a secret revolutionary society.
• Vancenza; or the Dangers of Credulity by Mary Robinson (1792).
• Anonymous. Count Roderic’s Castle (1794), The Haunted Castle (1794), The Animated Skeleton (1798) and The New Monk (1798)
• Anonymous. Fantasmagoriana, ou Recueil d’Histoires d’Apparitions de Spectres, Revenans, Fantomes, etc.; traduit de l’allemand, par un Amateur (Paris: Lenormant et Schoell, 1812).
• Don Corrado de Gerrera by Nikolay Gnedich¨s (1803). The first Russian gothic novel.
• St. Irvyne; or, The Rosicrucian by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1811). A follow up to Zastrozzi. A solitary wanderer meets and alchemist who has secret to immortality.
• “A Terrible Vengeance” by Nikolai Gogol (1831). A gothic horror story. It is folkloric in tone and is about evil spirits in the everyday world.
• “Viy” by Nikolai Gogol (1835). A gothic horror story about a demonic character.

Books and authors that may be considered Gothic

If you know of others books and authors, please leave a comment and I’ll try to add it to this list.

• William Godwin. Caleb Williams.
• Washington Irving. Selected Stories.

Pre-Victorian Gothic literature includes

• The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole’s
• The Mysteries of Udolpho or The Romance of the Forest by Anne Radcliffe
• The Monk by Matthew Lewis
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
• And much more.

We’ll be preparing an introductory form with more reading ideas, book summaries, and links to online reviews.  Sign up will begin (probably) at the end of next week. Stay tuned!

If you want to help pull together book lists, write book summaries, and/or find quotes from bloggers or reviewers online, please send me an email at rebecca[at]rebeccareid[dot]com.

Thanks to all who participated! Stay tuned for more information about an upcoming tour.

Monday, August 15

Bibliographing The Acts of King Arthur (permalink)

Becky’s Book Reviews The Grapes of Wrath (permalink)

2606 Books and Counting Travels with Charley (permalink)

Tuesday, August 16

Ardent Reader Grapes of Wrath (permalink)

things mean a lot Of Mice and Men (permalink)

Wednesday, August 17

Caribousmom John Steinbeck’s Letters (permalink)

A Literary Odyssey The Winter of Our Discontent (permalink)

Seagreen Reader Cannery Row (permalink)

Thursday, August 18

Book Clutterer Pastures of Heaven (permalink)

I read. Do you? Travels with Charley (permalink)

The Reading Life The Pearl (permalink)

The Book Project The Grapes of Wrath (permalink)

Friday, August 19

Kristi Loves Books Cannery Row (permalink)

The Avid Reader’s Musing Sweet Thursday (permalink)

Shelf Love Travels with Charley (permalink)

Saturday, August 20

Six Great Books Grapes of Wrath (permalink)

Pining for the West Travels with Charley (permalink)

Sunday, August 21

Stiletto Storytime The Pearl (permalink)

Read the Book Of Mice and Men (permalink)

Monday, August 22

The Story Girl The Grapes of Wrath (permalink)

Words And Peace Of Mice and Men (permalink)

Tuesday, August 23

fictional100 The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights (permalink)

Reading Thru The Night East of Eden (permalink)

Meditations of a Teenage Philosopher East of Eden, Tortilla Flat, The Winter of Our Discontent (permalink)

Wednesday, August 24

An Armchair by the Sea East of Eden (permalink)

Laura’s Reviews Short Story: “Flight” (permalink)

Connie at The Blue Bookcase Travels with Charley (permalink)

Thursday, August 25

Reading, Writing, Working, Playing Cannery Row, Sweet Tuesday (permalink)

Rebecca Reads The Grapes of Wrath (permalink)

Christina at the Blue Bookcase Of Mice and Men (permalink)

Friday, August 26

Joyfully Retired The Long Valley (permalink)

Books and Chocolate A Russian Journal and/or some other work (permalink)

On Monday, we begin our Steinbeck Classics Circuit Tour. The following sites are where John Steinbeck will be visiting on each day. Check back each morning to click over to the reviews. Thanks for following the tour, and enjoy!

Monday, August 15

Bibliographing The Acts of King Arthur

Becky’s Book Reviews The Grapes of Wrath

2606 Books and Counting Travels with Charley

Tuesday, August 16

Ardent Reader East of Eden or Wayward Bus or Grapes of Wrath

things mean a lot Of Mice and Men

Wednesday, August 17

Caribousmom John Steinbeck’s Letters

A Literary Odyssey The Grapes of Wrath or The Winter of Our Discontent

Seagreen Reader Cannery Row

Thursday, August 18

Book Clutterer Cannery Row, Pastures of Heaven, or Tortilla Flat

I read. Do you? Travels with Charley

The Reading Life The Pearl

The Book Project The Grapes of Wrath

Friday, August 19

Kristi Loves Books Cannery Row

The Avid Reader’s Musing Sweet Thursday

Shelf Love Travels with Charley

Saturday, August 20

Six Great Books Grapes of Wrath

Pining for the West Travels with Charley

Sunday, August 21

Stiletto Storytime The Pearl

Read the Book Of Mice and Men

Monday, August 22

The Things We Read The Winter of Our Discontent or The Russian Journal

The Story Girl The Grapes of Wrath or Of Mice and Men

Words And Peace Of Mice and Men

Tuesday, August 23

fictional100 The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights

Reading Thru The Night East of Eden

Meditations of a Teenage Philosopher East of Eden, Tortilla Flat, The Winter of Our Discontent

Wednesday, August 24

An Armchair by the Sea East of Eden

Laura’s Reviews Short Story: “Flight”

Connie at The Blue Bookcase The Pearl and/or Travels with Charley

Thursday, August 25

Reading, Writing, Working, Playing Cannery Row, Sweet Tuesday

Rebecca Reads The Grapes of Wrath

Christina at the Blue Bookcase Of Mice and Men

Friday, August 26

Breathing Space The Grapes of Wrath

Joyfully Retired The Long Valley

Books and Chocolate A Russian Journal and/or some other work

It’s time for another tour! This time, we’re celebrating the writings of John Steinbeck.

John Steinbeck lived from 1902 to 1968, writing more than two dozen books, including fiction, nonfiction, and stories. Steinbeck won the Pulitzer Prize in 1940 for The Grapes of Wrath, and in 1962, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, an award given to an author with the best body of work.

I’d like to thank Karen from Books and Chocolate for her help in compiling this information.

The button is a government image of an Okie family packing up their car to travel out of the dust bowl during the Great Depression. Since this is the subject Steinbeck’s Pultizer Prize-winning novel (The Grapes of Wrath), it seemed a significant image to use to promote our own tour around the blogosphere. Feel free to download the button for your own use.

Although the tour dates are not determined yet, the tour will probably run beginning August 15 and going until about August 26, depending on how many people have signed up. We will email an assigned day. You are to post on your blog on your assigned day. 

Sign up is now closed.

If you are coming to this late and would really like to participate, send an email to rebecca[at]rebeccareid[dot]com with your blog url, the book you’d like to write about, and your available days. Please contact me before the tour begins.

Short Stories

• The Pastures of Heaven (1932). A short story cycle consisting of twelve interconnected stories about a valley in Monterey, California, which was discovered by a Spanish corporal while chasing runaway Indian slaves. Written in classic Steinbeck style, the lives of the families that relocate to the valley are portrayed with a mixture of humor and poignance. A recurring theme in the book is the pain caused when people try ineptly to help or to please others.
  • “Place and landscape, so characteristic of Steinbeck’s writing, figure prominently in The Pastures of Heaven, in particular the influence of the fertile valley floor upon its richly variegated denizens.” – Interpolations

• Cup of Gold (1927). A novel based on the life and death of privateer Henry Morgan.  It centers on Morgan’s assault and sacking of the city of Panama, sometimes referred to as the ‘Cup of Gold’, and on the woman, fairer than the sun, who was said to be found there.
  • ‘Cup of Gold is saying that to live is to hold on to that youthful spirit for as long as you can, but it is also saying that nothing is certain in your pursuit of happiness, or fortune, or glory – not success, not recognition or support, and not failure. The novel asserts you must realize this and be able to say “So be it.”’ – Jabberw00kie

• The Long Valley (1938). A collection of twelve short stories, including “The Red Pony.”
  • “All together these stories paint a picture of the Salinas area: its people, its geography, its culture, its beliefs, its sins and its dreams. If you want to learn about this area of California, start with this book.” Sarah Sammis at Puss Reboots
• Cannery Row (1945). A series of vignettes about a few people living in Monterey, California.
  • “Even if what he is describing is more ugly than beautiful. He has a way of saying it so that it matters. So that you, the reader, care. It does help that this one has a good deal of humor.” Becky’s Book Reviews
• Sweet Thursday (1954). A sequel to Cannery Row that takes place after World War II.
  • “Love, happiness and loneliness are central themes with great highs and lows included. There is more humour here than the first book and, perhaps because it is longer, I felt the story was more substantial in some ways, less in others.” Chris at Park Benches and Book Ends

Novellas

• The Red Pony (1933). An episodic novella (four different stories) about a boy named Jody Tiflin.
  • “In each story Steinbeck shows us unique ways in which young Jody undergoes certain experiences as he confronts the harsh realities of life, and as a result comes closer to a realization of true manhood,”  —  Dark Chest of Wonders

• Of Mice and Men (1937). A novella about two migrant ranch workers during the Great Depression.
  • “I was on the edge of my seat the whole time reading this one although I already knew where the plot was going having read the book and watched the movie once before.  I couldn’t help but be really nervous.  The writing is wonderful, the foreshadowing executed to perfection, and the relationship between these two men is described in such a way that you can’t help but love them.” Natasha at Maw Books Blog

Novels

• To a God Unknown (1933). A short novel exploring the relationship of man to his land. The plot follows a man, Joseph Wayne, who moves to California in order to establish a homestead, leaving his father, who soon dies.
  • “While To A God Unknown is a minor Steinbeck, it’s important in light of the works that would come later. In its California setting, the hardship of a devastated land, and Biblical allusions we are given a dress rehearsal of major Steinbeck novels.” – Literarism

• Tortilla Flat (1935). A novel set in Monterey, California, portraying with great sympathy and humour a group of paisanos – literally, countrymen – a small band of errant friends enjoying life and wine in the days after the end of the Great War.
  • “Steinbeck called it a Camelot tale, and it’s easy to see why – it depicts a glorious gathering of a group and shows of that glittering moment in time when all was right for the members of the group.” – Ex Libris Amie
• In Dubious Battle (1936). A novel about a strike in California, with the Communist leaders trying to rally the picketers together.
  • “This is my new favorite Steinbeck novel. A novel about the anatomy of a strike, it kicks ass more than The Grapes Of Wrath, especially when you factor in that Paradise Lost connection.” Bybee at Naked Without Books
• The Grapes of Wrath (1939). A Pulitzer Prizing winning novel about a family of poor sharecroppers driven from their home during the Great Depression.
  • “A must read. The Joad family will stick with the reader long after the final page has been turned.” Wendy at Caribousmom
• The Wayward Bus (1947). A novel written as internal monologues for characters in Salinas Valley, California in the years after WWII.
  • “The Wayward Bus, gave great insight into what life was like for every day people in the 1940s. A terrific character driven novel in which I suspect that many readers might find at least one of these passengers someone they could relate to. “ Bibliophile by the Sea
• The Pearl (1947). A novel based on a Mexican folktale, exploring the secrets of man’s nature.
  • “As always, Steinbeck is a genius with words, it reads so smoothly and heartfelt. His Mexico feels so real: the boats and the heat, the brush houses and the almost too closely knit community. This was a fast and interesting read.” Corinne at the Book Nest
• East of Eden (1952).  An epic novel tracing the lives of two families in Salinas Valley, California.
  • “The themes are fantastic, and I love the plot, but one of my very favorite things about this book is the writing.  Oh my gosh, this is Steinbeck at his absolute best, it is lyrical, evocative, gorgeous, and every other good word you can think of to talk about writing.” Jen at Devourer of Books
• The Winter of Our Discontent (1961). Steinbeck’s last novel, about a former New England aristocrat now clerking in a store.
  • “The writing is quite good. Better than good when you think about it. I marked passage after passage. The subject matter is interesting–complex. The hard examination of life, love, marriage, and friendship in a community.” Becky’s Book Reviews

Nonfiction

• The Forgotten Village (1941). A film documentary written by Steinbeck about the clash between traditions and modernizations in a traditional Mexican village.
  • no reviews found.
• The Moon Is Down (1942). A military propogranda novel about the occupation of a northern European town.
  • “The story moves with good pace, the portrayals are effective and the story rises to make powerfully its eternal point about human liberty. The book is an assertion of freedom and human spirit. This may be the most direct, concise and effective piece of mass propaganda ever written.” gautami tripathy at everything distills into reading
• Bombs Away: The Story of a Bomber Team (1942). A nonfiction account of Steinbeck’s involvement in a bomber team, commissioned by the Armed Services department of the USA.
  • “Purely propaganda, but interesting as a time capsule, nonetheless. Plus, it’s Steinbeck, so you know it’s readable. How does he stay so enthusiastic?” Heather at Goodreads
• A Russian Journal (1948). A nonfiction account of Steinbeck’s travels through Russia during the early years of the Cold War.
  • “Who would have thought a tour behind the iron curtain could be so entertaining!” Stephanie at Goodreads
• The Log from the Sea of Cortez (1951). A narrative nonfiction account of a 1940s marine expedition with Steinbeck’s friend Ricketts.
  • “Steinbeck and Ricketts portray a life and philosophy that seems impossibly engaged, impossibly full, and it isn’t long before you’re there on the boat beside them, a can of beer in one hand and a dip net in the other, peering into blue shallows in search of strange and beautiful creatures.” Ken-ichi from Goodreads
• Once There Was A War (1958). A nonfiction novel about ordinary people during a war, written when Steinbeck was a special war correspondent (WWII).
  • “Oone thing stands out among his work, and that is the idea that war isn’t so great, it isn’t so beneficial, and it shouldn’t be glorified. Throughout his articles, Steinbeck uses the human connection to war, he portrays the soldier’s own thoughts on the war, the citizen’s attitude toward the war, and the senseless brutality of war on the human race.” Tomas at Goodreads
• Travels with Charley: In Search of America (1962). A travelogue with his poodle, Charley.
  • “Human nature and dog nature never really change over the years.” Valerie at Life is a Patchwork Quilt

Other

• Burning Bright (1950). An experimental morality play written in the form of a novella.
  • “A stellar experimental novel, even at 87 short pages.” Jason Woolery at Goodreads
• The Short Reign of Pippin IV: A Fabrication (1957). A political satire that pokes fun of France.
  • “with characters and a plot reminiscent of italo calvino’s fiction, this short novel makes a caricature of the french revolution, and, more broadly, of politics in general. while lacking in the moral impetus so prominent in his other works, pippin may well be one of steinbeck’s more humorous books.” Jeremy at Goodreads
• America and Americans (1966). A collection of Steinbeck’s journalism.
  • “America and Americans is a sardonic, not always convincing but fairly provocative series of essays on America at midcentury and its infatuation with material things and the impact of this infatuation on our national character.” Rick Larios at Goodreads
• Viva Zapata! (1975). Screenplay for a fictionalized-biography of a Mexican revolutionary leader.
  • “The overarching theme of both is the eternal fight of humanity against the powerful, always a worthwhile subject, and presented here in a historical and literary context that makes these screenplays worth reading.” Jlelliot at Goodreads
• The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights (1976). A retelling of the Arthur legend, based on L’Morte D’Arthur by Sir Thomas Mallory.
  • “Not only did he re-word the [tales], he lived them, visiting all the sites and doing years of research.” readitnweep at Goodreads

Sign up is now closed.

Coming soon is a tour celebrating the writings of John Steinbeck! Sign up will be in the coming week or two, and the tour will run the last weeks of July or early August.

If you’d like to help pull together the introductory document about John Steinbeck, send me an email at rebecca[at]rebeccareid[dot]com. Help is needed mostly this coming week.

Blog titles below link to bloggers’ post for the Jane Austen vs Charles Dickens Circuit. I hope you enjoy looking over all the posts, and a big thanks to all who participated! This was a very close call and I ‘m not sure how close we are to declaring a winner. We have to put it up for a vote! So please take the time to think about your experiences with these authors and watch out for our tie breaking poll at the end of the week. And of course stay tuned for the next Classics Circuit tour.

Sunday, May 8

Sasha & The Silverfish – Persuasion by Jane Austen
First Impressions – Henry and Eliza by Jane Austen
Six Great Books – Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

Monday, May 9

Adventures of An Intrepid Reader – Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
The Story Girl – A Tale of Two Cities by Charles and Dickens
The Blue Bookcase – Persuasion by Jane Austen

Tuesday, May 10

Reviews by Lola – Lady Susan by Jane Austen

Wednesday, May 11

Armchair by the Sea – Emma by Jane Austen
Bloomer – The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens
Fleur Fisher - The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens

Thursday, May 12

The Reading Life – Sketches by Boz by Charles and Dickens
Your Move, Dickens – Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Peetswea – A Tale of Two Cities by Charles and Dickens

Friday, May 13

Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog – Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen & The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens
fictional 100 - Ghosts of Scrooges Past: Revisiting ”A Christmas Carol”

Saturday, May 14

Lifetime Reading Plan – Lady Susan by Jane Austen
Stiletto Storytime – A Tale of Two Orphans a comparison of the main characters of Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens and Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
She Reads Novels – Persuasion by Jane Austen &  The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Charles and Dickens

Sunday, May 15
A Fair Substitute For Heaven - Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Ardent Reader - Emma by Jane Austen

Monday, May 16

The Time of Your Life – A Tale of Two Cities by Charles and Dickens
Fairy Revel – Emma by Jane Austen
seagreen reader – Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Bibliophiliac – Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens

Tuesday, May 17
A Literary Odyssey – Hard Times by Charles Dickens
Becky’s Book Reviews – Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen & The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens

Wednesday, May 18

Chrisbookarama – Hard Times by Charles Dickens
Notes from the North - Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Bread Crumb Reads – Persuasion by Jane Austen &  A Tale of Two Cities by Charles and Dickens

Thursday, May 19

Reading Writing Working, Playing – Hard Times by Charles Dickens
Reading Thru The Night – Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Dolce Belleza – Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Friday, May 20

Rebecca Reads – The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens
Things Mean A Lot – Hard Times by Charles Dickens
JA Film Club – Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen & Bleak House by Charles Dickens
Lizzy’s Literary Life - The Memoirs of Joseph Grimaldi by Charles Dickesn

Saturday, May 21

Books and Chocolate – Dombey & Son by Charles Dickens
A Room of One’s Own – Persuasion by Jane Austen & Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Reading Rambo – The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens