Mystique of the Darkness: 100+ Gothic Classics

Mystique of the Darkness: 100+ Gothic Classics is an unparalleled compilation that traverses the shadowy corridors of Gothic literature, presenting an extraordinary selection of works from some of the most influential authors of the 18th and 19th centuries. With a rich tapestry of themes ranging from the sublime to the supernatural, this collection showcases the diverse literary styles that define the Gothic genre, from the terror-laden landscapes of the English countryside to the haunted recesses of the European imagination. The anthology brings together a variety of standout pieces, each contributing to the eerie atmosphere and complex emotions characteristic of Gothic fiction, yet uniquely fashioned by the distinct voice of its creator. The contributing authors and editors, ranging from the dark romanticism of Poe to the psychological depth of James, and the societal critiques of Austen and Eliot, bring a wealth of backgrounds to the anthology. Their collective contributions illuminate the multifaceted aspects of the Gothic theme, intertwining historical events, cultural anxieties, and literary movements from Romanticism to Realism. This amalgamation of voices not only enriches the reader's understanding of the Gothic but also reflects the shifting terrains of fear, morality, and the human psyche across the centuries. Mystique of the Darkness is not merely a collection of Gothic classics; it is an invitation to explore the intricate layers of darkness that have fascinated readers and writers alike for generations. It offers a unique opportunity to experience a multitude of perspectives, styles, and themes, all woven into the dark tapestry of the Gothic. For scholars, students, and enthusiasts of literature, this anthology is an essential resource that provides a comprehensive insight into the evolution of the Gothic genre, promoting a deeper understanding and appreciation of its enduring legacy. Delve into this collection to discover the myriad ways in which these masterful storytellers have explored the mystique of the darkness within and without.

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2375 books
Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens was born in 1812 and grew up in poverty. This experience influenced ‘Oliver Twist’, the second of his fourteen major novels, which first appeared in 1837. When he died in 1870, he was buried in Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey as an indication of his huge popularity as a novelist, which endures to this day.
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Oscar Wilde
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was born on the 16th October 1854 and died on the 30th November 1900. He was an Irish playwright, poet, and author of numerous short stories and one novel. Known for his biting wit, he became one of the most successful playwrights of the late Victorian era in London, and one of the greatest celebrities of his day. Several of his plays continue to be widely performed, especially The Importance of Being Earnest.
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Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson was born on 13 November 1850, changing his second name to ‘Louis’ at the age of eighteen. He has always been loved and admired by countless readers and critics for ‘the excitement, the fierce joy, the delight in strangeness, the pleasure in deep and dark adventures’ found in his classic stories and, without doubt, he created some of the most horribly unforgettable characters in literature and, above all, Mr. Edward Hyde.
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Edgar Allan Poe
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Percy Bysshe Shelley
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Bram Stoker
Bram Stoker was born November 8, 1847, in Dublin, Ireland. Stoker was a sickly child who was frequently bedridden; his mother entertained him by telling frightening stories and fables during his bouts of illness. Stoker studied math at Trinity College Dublin, graduating in 1867. He worked as a civil servant, freelance journalist, drama critic, editor and, most notably, as manager of the Lyceum Theatre. Although best known for Dracula, Stoker wrote eighteen other books, including Under the Sunset, The Snake’s Pass, The Jewel of Seven Stars, The Lady of the Shroud, and The Lair of the White Worm. He died in 1912 at the age of sixty-four.
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Charlotte Brontë
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Emily Brontë
Emily Brontë (1818–1848) was an English novelist and poet, best remembered for her only novel, Wuthering Heights. The novel’s violence and passion shocked the Victorian public and led to the belief that it was written by a man. Although Emily died young (at the age of 30), her sole complete work is now considered a masterpiece of English literature.
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Henry James
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Victor Hugo
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Arthur Conan Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle was a British writer and physician. He is the creator of the Sherlock Holmes character, writing his debut appearance in A Study in Scarlet. Doyle wrote notable books in the fantasy and science fiction genres, as well as plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction, and historical novels.
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Joseph Conrad
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Jane Austen
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George Eliot
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Samuel Taylor Coleridge
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Washington Irving
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Nathaniel Hawthorne
Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804–1864) was an American novelist, short-story writer, and biographer. His work centres on his New England home and often features moral allegories with Puritan inspiration, with themes revolving around inherent good and evil. His fiction works are considered part of the Romantic movement and, more specifically, Dark romanticism.
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Gaston Leroux
Gaston Leroux was a French journalist and playwright. Born in Paris in 1868, he abandoned a law career to become a court reporter and theater critic; as an international correspondent, he witnessed and covered the 1905 Russian Revolution. Two years later, Leroux left journalism to focus on writing fiction. He authored dozens of novels and short stories, and is considered one of the preeminent French writers of detective fiction. His most famous work, The Phantom of the Opera, was originally serialized in 1909 and 1910. He died in 1927.
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Wilkie Collins
Wilkie Collins (1824-1889) began his literary career writing articles and short stories for Dickens' periodicals. He published a biography of his father and a number of plays, but his reputation rests on his novels. Collins is well known for his mystery, suspense, and crime writings. He is best known for his novels in the emerging genres of Sensation and Detective fiction.
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William Blake
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John Keats
John Keats (1795–1821) was an English Romantic poet. He was one of the main figures of the second generation of Romantic poets along with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley, despite his work having been in publication for only four years before his death.
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Christina Rossetti
Christina Rossetti (1830–1894) was an English poet who wrote romantic, devotional, and children’s poems.
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Mary Shelley
Mary Shelley (1797–1851) was born to well-known parents: author and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft and philosopher William Godwin. When Mary was sixteen, she met the young poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, a devotee of her father’s teachings. In 1816, the two of them travelled to Geneva to stay with Lord Byron. One evening, while they shared ghost stories, Lord Byron proposed that they each write a ghost story of their own. Frankenstein was Mary’s contribution. Other works of hers include Mathilda, The Last Man, and The Fortunes of Perkin Warbeck.
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Mystique of the Darkness: 100+ Gothic Classics

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Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens

Oscar Wilde

Robert Louis Stevenson

Edgar Allan Poe

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Emily Brontë

Henry James

Victor Hugo

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Nathaniel Hawthorne

Gaston Leroux

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William Blake

John Keats

Christina Rossetti

Mary Shelley