Six Reasons Why I Love Gothic Fiction

Firstly, what makes fiction gothic? In a nutshell, gothic fiction contains a mix of romance and fear, a gloomy or bleak atmosphere, death and decay and madness and the supernatural, the story held together by mystery and suspense – all of these elements aiming to heighten emotions in readers. Gothic isn’t horror and often falls under the umbrella of historical fiction, and yet it doesn’t really belong in that genre either. Definitions and categorisations aside, what matters is what’s to love about gothic fiction.

Here’s What I Love About Gothic Fiction

Gothic fiction has a strong tradition and has been enthralling readers for nearly three centuries. Horace Walpole is considered to be the first gothic novelist, making use of the supernatural in The Castle of Otranto in 1764. Ann Radcliffe included the supernatural in her novels in the 1790s, including The Mysteries of Udolpho. Then along came Emily Bronte, Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker, Daphne du Maurier, all memorable writers of classic gothic novels in the English language. The bar has been set and it’s quite high.
Gothic fiction tackles challenging themes. The genre is attractive both for writers and readers who wish to explore something confronting in a rich and meaningful way. By venturing into the dark side of human nature, gothic fiction delves into whatever is lurking in the shadows. It’s the ideal genre for exploring dark family secrets. It’s perfect for portraying twisted and tortured minds.
Gothic fiction majors in atmosphere. Gothic novels tend to be moody and the sense of place is immersive, drawing readers into sinister, creepy, and/or strikingly bleak settings. Big old houses with creaky doors, moors and mountains and wild coastlines. Settings that become another character in the novel. It isn’t a gothic novel if it doesn’t have an eerie setting.
Gothic fiction has complexity and depth. There is nothing shallow about a good gothic fiction novel. Often present are themes of: innocence and naivety versus menace and malevolence; antagonists seeking power and control; legacies and strange inheritances; curses and hauntings; tricks and traps; strong occult elements. What a delicious mix of themes and elements to work with, if as a writer, you are prepared for the dark side.
Gothic fiction is not easy to write. Holding together the various tropes of the genre and never letting go of the charged atmosphere takes skill. Every genre has its demands. To write good gothic fiction, an author needs skills in writing mysteries, suspense, and romance, as well as an ability to write historical fiction. Writing in the gothic genre requires a lot of poise and good judgement to carry the reader along, to not lose sight of plot threads and that all-important atmosphere on the one hand, and not overcook things on the other. As an author, I like honing my skills, setting myself a challenge, sweating over my writing. I feel at home writing gothic fiction. But it is hard work.
Readers love gothic fiction! What more is there to say? Other than that I’ve subverted the “six things I love” search engine trope to draw attention to my latest release What Happened at the Abbey (Next Chapter Publishing 2023). I was more nervous than I’ve ever been over the release of a new work. And more than relieved when all of the twenty-one book bloggers who reviewed What Happened at the Abbey praised my book.