Gothic Romances?

GradyHendrix · Jul 30, 2012

I'm wondering if people could recommend some of the best gothic romances? I'm specifically looking for 20th century novels, and if it's got a woman in a diaphanous gown running away from a dark house in the background with one lit window, then all the better.

There must be some really great/absurd/classic/unexpectedly wonderful gothic romances out there, but I am entirely ignorant about the genre. Thanks in advance!

dolores haze · Jul 30, 2012

The gothic romance novels of Victoria Holt. Lots of diaphanous gowns and creepy castles. Haven't read one in years, but I used to eat 'em up.

Filigree · Jul 30, 2012

Mary Stewart. AIRS ABOVE THE GROUND, THE MOON-SPINNERS, and NINE COACHES WAITING are still masterpieces of mid-20th Century gothic romance. All of her works feature rich and vivid descriptions and tight plots - do not read these if you skip long paragraphs of description and set-up, because you'll miss evocative passages and vital clues.

Silver-Midnight · Jul 30, 2012

I don't know if it will help much but I found this page on GoodReads:

http://www.goodreads.com/genres/gothic-romance

JoyceH · Jul 30, 2012

I second the Victoria Holt recommendation. Her gothics were really the best of the genre.

Is anyone writing gothics anymore? Back when Holt was a best-seller, seems like publishing houses really glutted the market with third-rate paperback gothics and killed off the genre for at least a generation - has it ever recuperated?

Evangeline · Jul 30, 2012

Third the recommendation for Victoria Holt. I am an absolute geek over gothic romances. They were the first books I discovered in the adult section of the library as a teenager, and I devoured anything with those now stereotypical covers. I highly recommend Jill Tattersall, Nancy Buckingham, Jane Tooms, Virginia Coffman, Lucinda Baker, Dorothy Daniels, Dorothy Eden, Alexandra Manners, Rona Randall, Mary Linn Roby, Barbara Michaels, and Phyllis A. Whitney.

You should also visit The Gothic Journal, the Gothic Romance Forum, and the Gothicked blog.

Evangeline · Jul 30, 2012

JoyceH said:
I second the Victoria Holt recommendation. Her gothics were really the best of the genre.

Is anyone writing gothics anymore? Back when Holt was a best-seller, seems like publishing houses really glutted the market with third-rate paperback gothics and killed off the genre for at least a generation - has it ever recuperated?

I think that after those knock-offs oversaturated the market, gothic romances were finished off by romantic suspense, and later, paranormal romance. Jennifer St. Giles and Diane Tyrell published gothic romances in the early 00s, historical and contemporary, respectively, but it's so difficult to convince people to read gothics because the elements of which they are comprised have become such a cliche. Plus, there's the complaint that they are all about weak, fainting women falling for dark, mysterious and overbearing men (funny, considering that this trope is a staple across all romance sub-genres).

ETA: there is a growing number of authors self-publishing gothic romance. Belinda Kroll is one, and Amanda DeWees is another.

Anninyn · Jul 30, 2012

Evangeline said:
I think that after those knock-offs oversaturated the market, gothic romances were finished off by romantic suspense, and later, paranormal romance. Jennifer St. Giles and Diane Tyrell published gothic romances in the early 00s, historical and contemporary, respectively, but it's so difficult to convince people to read gothics because the elements of which they are comprised have become such a cliche. Plus, there's the complaint that they are all about weak, fainting women falling for dark, mysterious and overbearing men (funny, considering that this trope is a staple across all romance sub-genres).

ETA: there is a growing number of authors self-publishing gothic romance. Belinda Kroll is one, and Amanda DeWees is another.

It's a shame, because I love them in all their sillyness.

I think if someone could write one now, turning some of the cliches on their heads (how about a weak, fainting man falling for a dangerous, brooding heroine?) and reworking others, it might work.

dolores haze · Jul 30, 2012

JoyceH said:
Is anyone writing gothics anymore?

I've had an idea on the back burner for a while now. Fully outlined, but not a word written.

Evangeline said:
You should also visit The Gothic Journal, the Gothic Romance Forum, and the Gothicked blog.

Awesome links!

Lil · Jul 30, 2012

Deanna Raybourn wrote one recently, THE DEAD TRAVEL FAST. It was lots of fun, and I suspect she had fun writing it.

Filigree · Jul 30, 2012

That's one of the things I always loved about Mary Stewart's heroines: they weren't silly or weak. Thorough creatures of their times, perhaps, but they were always resourceful.

Maybe it's time to consider Gothic 2.0?

oldhousejunkie · Aug 1, 2012

Lil said:
Deanna Raybourn wrote one recently, THE DEAD TRAVEL FAST. It was lots of fun, and I suspect she had fun writing it.

I second Deanna Raybourn. She's one of my favorite writers and very nice. I e-mailed her once asking some questions about pitching my non-traditional historical romance, and she's great.

THE DEAD TRAVEL FAST was a stand alone outside of her Lady Julia Grey series. I liked it a lot but I think some people didn't. The heroine was not your typical weak willed woman; very independent, etc. I thought it worked.

While not mid-20th century, let us not forget the pioneers of the genre. Ann Radcliffe's MYSTERIES OF UDOLPHO and THE ITALIAN, and Jane Austen's NORTHANGER ABBEY. I'd even throw in Charlotte Bronte's JANE EYRE because of the sinister castle and crazy ex-wife in the tower thing.

Soccer Mom · Aug 1, 2012

Lisa Greer has one out, The Master and the Governess. I think it's part of a new gothic romance series she has planned.

Robin Bayne · Aug 1, 2012

My publisher has a line of Christian gothics--
http://www.pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/browse-by-genre/romance/christian-gothic

JenniferGoodnight · Aug 1, 2012

Anninyn said:
It's a shame, because I love them in all their sillyness.

I think if someone could write one now, turning some of the cliches on their heads (how about a weak, fainting man falling for a dangerous, brooding heroine?) and reworking others, it might work.

LOL. Someone DEFINITELY needs to write that.

GradyHendrix · Aug 1, 2012

Thanks so much! Seriously, this is so helpful to me.

By the way, has anyone else noticed that the TomKat narrative is an old gothic romance? Innocent young woman marries a dark-haired, overbearing rich man who can give her anything she wants, but who has a tormented past (two former marriages) and a dark secret (we all assume). And now she has escaped! She's running from the castle!

Soccer Mom · Aug 1, 2012

Run, Katie, run! Run like the wind!

Filigree · Aug 1, 2012

God, I never thought of it that way. Plus, now she has the narrative of saving her daughter from the same fate. Run, Katie, run!

AriaKane · Aug 13, 2012

Soccer Mom said:
Lisa Greer has one out, The Master and the Governess. I think it's part of a new gothic romance series she has planned.

yes, Lisa Greer has several. Her tagline is "Gothic romance that will make you shiver."

Ketzel · Aug 13, 2012

Then there's Vincent Virga's Gaywyck, if you have any interest in a gay-themed gothic.

"He was so innocent, until he fell captive to the brooding master and sinister secrets of Gaywyck."

K. Taylor · Aug 14, 2012

GradyHendrix said:
Thanks so much! Seriously, this is so helpful to me.

By the way, has anyone else noticed that the TomKat narrative is an old gothic romance? Innocent young woman marries a dark-haired, overbearing rich man who can give her anything she wants, but who has a tormented past (two former marriages) and a dark secret (we all assume). And now she has escaped! She's running from the castle!

Soccer Mom said:
Run, Katie, run! Run like the wind!

Filigree said:
God, I never thought of it that way. Plus, now she has the narrative of saving her daughter from the same fate. Run, Katie, run!

*snicker snicker* Bwahahaha

Gothic Romances?

GradyHendrix

New kid, be gentle!

dolores haze

international guttersnipe

Filigree

Mildly Disturbing

Silver-Midnight

JoyceH

Evangeline

Twirling in a glass of champagne

Evangeline

Twirling in a glass of champagne

Anninyn

Stealing your twiglets.

dolores haze

international guttersnipe

Lil

Filigree

Mildly Disturbing

oldhousejunkie

Soccer Mom

Crypto-fascist

Robin Bayne

~writes for Him~

JenniferGoodnight

GradyHendrix

New kid, be gentle!

Soccer Mom

Crypto-fascist

Filigree

Mildly Disturbing

AriaKane

Write. Wine. Repeat.

Ketzel

Leaving on the 2:19

K. Taylor

Bah Humbug