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Gothic Tales

By Elizabeth Gaskell
Penguin Classics
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Gothic Tales by Elizabeth Gaskell is a captivating collection of eerie and atmospheric stories that delve into the supernatural and the unsettling. Each tale explores themes of fear, mystery, and the unknown, while also reflecting on the psychological and moral dimensions of its characters. Gaskell's masterful storytelling blends elements of the gothic tradition with her keen social insights, making it a perfect read for those who enjoy classic and suspenseful narratives.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy atmospheric and suspenseful stories filled with mysterious characters and eerie settings. Elizabeth Gaskell’s masterful storytelling weaves elements of the supernatural with insightful depictions of Victorian society, creating a captivating blend of intrigue and emotion. Great for those who love classic tales with a touch of the uncanny.

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The stories in this collection combine realism and fantasy. The themes are familiar from Gaskell's novels, but their treatment is revealingly different, ranging from ghost stories and comic fantasy, to a realistic tale of 17th-century witch trials.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Elizabeth Gaskell's chilling Gothic tales blend the real and the supernatural to eerie, compelling effect. Disappearances, inspired by local legends of mysterious vanishings, mixes gossip and fact; Lois the Witch, a novella based on an account of the Salem witch hunts, shows how sexual desire and jealousy lead to hysteria; while in The Old Nurse's Story a mysterious child roams the freezing Northumberland moors.

Whether darkly surreal, such as The Poor Clare, where an evil doppelgänger is formed by a woman's bitter curse, or mischievous like Curious, if True, a playful reworking of fairy tales, all the stories in this volume form a stark contrast to the social realism of Gaskell's novels, revealing a darker and more unsettling style of writing.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Gothic Tales by Elizabeth Gaskell is highly regarded for its atmospheric storytelling and exploration of the supernatural and psychological themes. Reviewers often praise Gaskell's ability to weave together suspense and moral complexity, creating narratives that are as thought-provoking as they are eerie. Her detailed character development and vivid settings enhance the unsettling and mysterious mood, capturing readers' imaginations.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780140437416

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 14 August 2000

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Edited by Laura Kranzler
  • Introduction by Laura Kranzler
  • Notes by Laura Kranzler

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 18.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 288g

Pages: 416

Collections

Classic Fiction Classic General Fiction Elizabeth Gaskell Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Penguin Black Classics Penguin Books Penguin Classics Penguin Classics: General Fiction

About the Author

Elizabeth Gaskell (1810-65) wrote her first novel, MARY BARTON, in 1848 as a distraction from her sorrow at the death of her only son in infancy. It won the attention of Dickens and was followed by 5 other full-length novels as well as numerous short stories and novellas. Laura Kranzler has written on Mary Shelley and Virginia Woolf and has published a novel.

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