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Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'
Gothic Short Stories by Elizabeth Gaskell, E.F. Benson, David Stuart Davies, Ralph Adams Cram, M.R. James, Robert Louis Stevenson, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Charles Dickens, S. Carleton, Charles Robert Maturin, Walter Scott, David Blair, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Nathan Drake, Richard Barham Middleton, Edgar Allan Poe, Ambrose Bierce, Mary E. Wilkins Freeman, J. Sheridan Le Fanu
1 review
perthalus's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
I’m fairly new to Gothic literature, so this being a fairly diverse collection of short Gothic stories from different periods of the style helped me understand the progressions in Gothic literature as well as an idea of the different tropes and styles that were commonly used. I was also happy to see the inclusion of feminist Gothic short stories and writers from both Britain and America.
Not every story was great and a few I had to come back to and reread/finish because they often times went on pointless tangents that gave me fatigue whilst reading. Fortunately though, many stories like Sir Bertrand: A Fragment, Strange Event in the Life of Schalken the Painter, The Lame Priest and my favourite, The Yellow Wallpaper held striking imagery and gripping mysteries that allowed the reader to put the pieces together for themselves. Many times there were even scenes with descriptions that, despite their age, made me anxious to think about.
To top it all off, the introduction and the small biographies for each story gave a very useful and relevant insight into the writers of the stories, the places and period they were made as well as interpretations and explanations for them. It’s a solid collection and for me personally a great introduction into Gothic literature.
Not every story was great and a few I had to come back to and reread/finish because they often times went on pointless tangents that gave me fatigue whilst reading. Fortunately though, many stories like Sir Bertrand: A Fragment, Strange Event in the Life of Schalken the Painter, The Lame Priest and my favourite, The Yellow Wallpaper held striking imagery and gripping mysteries that allowed the reader to put the pieces together for themselves. Many times there were even scenes with descriptions that, despite their age, made me anxious to think about.
To top it all off, the introduction and the small biographies for each story gave a very useful and relevant insight into the writers of the stories, the places and period they were made as well as interpretations and explanations for them. It’s a solid collection and for me personally a great introduction into Gothic literature.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Murder, Torture, Blood, Chronic illness, Confinement, Violence, and Sexism
Moderate: Abandonment, Animal death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Child death, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Physical abuse, Classism, and Antisemitism
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