Book 22: 21st Century Gothic: Great Gothic Novels Since 2000 edited by Danel Olson
Book 22: 21st Century Gothic: Great Gothic Novels Since 2000.
Editor: Danel Olson, 2011. Foreword by S. T. Joshi.
Genre: Non-Fiction. Literary Studies. Academic. Gothic and New Gothic.
Other Details: Hardback. 675 pages.
The fifty-three works, published between 2000-2010, covered in this essay collection were selected by a poll of more than 180 specialists in the field of Gothic Studies. The essays discuss the merits of these novels, highlighting the influences and key components that make them worthy of inclusion in a study of the Gothic Novel in the 21st Century.
This collection of academic essays proved a fascinating read even if at times a little uneven as naturally in a collection with fifty-three contributors there were some essays that flowed better than others. A few essays were very thick in academic terminology making them a little difficult for a reader like myself without that background. All essays had notes and there was detailed information about the publishing history of the novels covered. The runner-ups in the poll were also included and I was surprised that a few mentioned didn't make the cut.
The criteria in academic circles for what constitutes a Gothic or New Gothic novel obviously is wider than I had realised. More than once while reading the essays I did wonder if the term was being diluted too much. It seems I wasn't alone in this as more than one contributor mentioned how the term 'Gothic' had become so difficult to pin down in recent years. Richard Bleiler in his essay on Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book summed it up very well: "one may justifiably argue that the word Gothic has been applied in so many ways, in so many places, and to so many authors and works that it has effectively lost all of its original meaning."
While I enjoyed the essays on books I had already read, I did have to skim parts of the ones dealing with novels that were already on my 'to be read' mountain as most of the essays contained spoilers in their analysis of the plot and themes. One of my favourite essays was upon the Twilight Saga by June Pulliiam, possibly because it was one of the less esoteric in its terminology and I'd already read a number of critical essays on the novels.
Still throughout I gained insight into various novels as well as broader aspects of how the term Gothic is applied in contemporary literary studies. It is the sort of book that does serve as a great resource for libraries. I am pleased that my local library bought this copy as once I've read those outstanding novels I should be able to pop in and read their corresponding chapters in greater depth.
'Sneak Peek' at Table of Contents - posted by Stirling University.
David McWilliam's Detailed Review - posted on Stirling University's Gothic Imagination site.