Art of Darkness: A Poetics of Gothic

Name: Art of Darkness: A Poetics of Gothic
Price: 32.60 USD
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4.3 of 5 Stars: Romance - Art of Darkness: A Poetics of Gothic

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Book Synopsis: Art of Darkness is an ambitious attempt to describe the principles governing Gothic literature. Ranging across five centuries of fiction, drama, and verse—including tales as diverse as Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto, Shelley's Frankenstein, Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, and Freud's The Mysteries of Enlightenment—Anne Williams proposes three new premises: that Gothic is "poetic," not novelistic, in nature; that there are two parallel Gothic traditions, Male and Female; and that the Gothic and the Romantic represent a single literary tradition.

Building on the psychoanalytic and feminist theory of Julia Kristeva, Williams argues that Gothic conventions such as the haunted castle and the family curse signify the fall of the patriarchal family; Gothic is therefore "poetic" in Kristeva's sense because it reveals those "others" most often identified with the female. Williams identifies distinct Male and Female Gothic traditions: In the Male plot, the protagonist faces a cruel, violent, and supernatural world, without hope of salvation. The Female plot, by contrast, asserts the power of the mind to comprehend a world which, though mysterious, is ultimately sensible. By showing how Coleridge and Keats used both Male and Female Gothic, Williams challenges accepted notions about gender and authorship among the Romantics. Lucidly and gracefully written, Art of Darkness alters our understanding of the Gothic tradition, of Romanticism, and of the relations between gender and genre in literary history.

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Discover the captivating world of Gothic literature with Art of Darkness: A Poetics of Gothic. This groundbreaking book by Anne Williams takes you on a journey through centuries of spine-chilling tales, from Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto to Freud's The Mysteries of Enlightenment. With three revolutionary premises, Williams reshapes our understanding of the genre and reveals its true poetic nature.

Unlike conventional novels, Gothic literature goes beyond storytelling to evoke powerful emotions. In this mesmerizing work, Williams argues that the Gothic tradition is inherently poetic, tapping into the deepest recesses of our imagination. Drawing on the brilliant psychoanalytic and feminist theories of Julia Kristeva, Art of Darkness uncovers the hidden symbolism in iconic Gothic elements like haunted castles and family curses, exposing the demise of patriarchal norms.

Let Williams be your guide as you explore the parallel Male and Female Gothic traditions. Through the Male plot, you experience a harsh and supernatural world devoid of hope for redemption. In contrast, the Female plot celebrates the power of the mind to comprehend the enigmatic but ultimately sensible universe. By analyzing the works of Coleridge and Keats, Williams disrupts traditional notions of gender and authorship in the Romantic period.

Prepare to be captivated by Williams' lucid prose and thought-provoking insights. Art of Darkness transforms our understanding of the Gothic genre, Romanticism, and the intricate connections between gender and literary traditions. Uncover the secrets of Gothic literature today and explore the mesmerizing world of Art of Darkness: A Poetics of Gothic.

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