Appetizing Fare: a comparison of two eras in the history of Gothic literature

Gothic literature has cycled in and out of popularity over the past several hundred years. This presentation analyzes that cycle, focusing on two booms: the output of the Minerva Press in the 1790s and the popular paperback gothic romance novels of the mid-20th century. Though the former are not necessarily romances by the contemporary definition, they share many similarities with the paperback gothic romances in their appeal, authorship, audience, and critical reception. Jane Austen’s gothic novel Northanger Abbey provides a fascinating lens for analyzing both eras in literature, as its rich text pinpoints the allure of the gothic as well as the reasoning behind the derision for readers and writers alike. I will provide historical and cultural context to both gothic booms, present examples of the artwork from gothic frontispieces and paperback covers, and detail how the scorn for women readers in particular is, sadly, practically as old as the novel itself. Attendees will also be able to see books from my personal collection of midcentury gothic romance paperbacks, with covers often humorously described as “Women Running From Houses.”