The Romance of the Forest

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death and incest. 

The Gothic genre derives its name from a style of architecture that prevailed in Europe from the late 12th through the 16th centuries, seen especially in the mighty cathedrals built during this time. Gothic novels frequently relied on such buildings for settings, particularly castles and abbeys. They also incorporate other medieval-esque elements, like the religious orders of the Catholic Church, once the predominant religion of Western Europe. The term “Gothic” was initially pejorative, meant to suggest this architecture was inferior to the principles Renaissance builders valued. This sense persisted in the literary label, as literary critics considered Gothic novels as mere sensationalism, exciting the susceptible reader with suspense, fear, terror, and pathos.

The popularity of Gothic literature peaked in Britain in the 1790s, in large part due to the reception of Radcliffe’s novels. Works with similar themes and premises had emerged earlier in the century, however. The Castle of Otranto (1764) by Horace Walpole is considered the first example of the Gothic novel, combining dramatic events and supernatural influences into its quasi-medieval