The Gothic World

Reviews / Votes

"As of now, this collection is the most inclusive, up-to-date scholarly work on the gothic, taking it beyond the literature. If one buys only one book on the subject, it should be this one. Summing Up: Essential." CHOICE, July 2014

"The list of contributors is a veritable Who's Who in Gothic Scholarship. I have no doubt that this work will become the definitive standard by which all other books on the Gothic are measured. The pervasive scope, the erudite yet accessible prose, and the diverse viewpoints all add up to overall excellence. Highly recommended." G. Todd Davis, Chair and Associate Professor of English, Kentucky State University, US

"Edited by two of the foremost scholars in the field and containing a rich variety of essays by both established and emerging critics, The Gothic World offers multiple perspectives on Gothic from the eighteenth century to the present day. Interdisciplinary and international in scope, it is, from roots to new directions in different media, consistently illuminating. This splendid book will be indispensable for all students of the Gothic." Sue Zlosnik, Professor of Gothic Literature, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK

"The Gothic World takes us on an impressive journey from the eighteenth century to the present day in which we encounter the Gothic in all its various guises from the novel to cyberspace and everything in between. The collection provides a comprehensive and intellectually stimulating overview of how we think about the Gothic and its international reach. It promises to have a long shelf life and is an essential text for anyone interested not only in the Gothic but in cultural history."Andrew Smith, University of Sheffield, UK, and co-president of the International Gothic Association

"This unique volume edited by leading scholars Glennis Byron and Dale Townshend is a wonderfully eclectic and indispensable resource for students (undergraduate and graduate) taking a course in Gothic literature, or for scholars whose area is the Gothic. Employing Bakhtin's definition of the Gothic chronotype, the editors and contributors to this volume are able to address changing meanings of the global Gothic across three centuries. The sense of Gothic boundarylessness is liberating and compelling. The "Gothic World" envisioned here spans various times, nations, audiences, disciplines, and genres and makes fascinating connections between Gothic as a literary mode and as a cultural phenomenon. Even the layperson will embrace the discussions of how Gothic has permeated history, art, architecture, politics, psychology, cyberspace, tourism, and cinema. The overview of the changing nature of Gothic readership and various reception theories is useful in showing the ongoing appeal of the Gothic mode and genre. A brilliant collection of essays by both established and up-and-coming scholars of the Gothic." Monika Elbert, Professor of English, Montclair State University, US

"As Byron and Townshend superbly demonstrate, the Gothic is an ever-expanding universe going well beyond the multi-disciplinary to encompass the multi-dimensional. The contributions of over 40 experts are the coordinates which bring to light the twilight Gothic worlds we all inhabit. From literature, film, history, fashion, life-style, cyberculture and beyond, this is a book which will continue to advance Gothic Studies as a global phenomenon for many years to come." Marie Mulvey-Roberts, Associate Professor in English Literature, University of the West of England, UK