| Synopsis: |
As we reach the end of yet another century, and interest in the Gothic once again grows, it begins to appear as though the Gothic has something quite specifically to do with the turns of centuries, that, as David Punter writes in the introduction to this collection, 'the very attempt to turn over a new leaf unavoidably involves conjuring up the shadow of the past, watching its curious shapes fall over the attempted purities of the future'. These essays explore some of the most significant current issues concerning the terrain of the Gothic and the Gothic perspective, offering a variety of possible answers to the crucial question: What is Gothic? The collection begins by addressing general issues about the location and structure of Gothic; this is followed by various considerations of Gothic as a specific historical phenomenon, linked with specific aspects of British, American and European society; and, finally, by an exploration of Gothic writing during recent decades. |