01-26-2008, 08:59 PM
In reply to Desdemona's take on the appeal of the traditional gothic heroine in historical gothics: One of the things I find appealing about these heroines IS their virginal innocence and their being swept away romantically by a powerful older "prince charming." It is fun and romantic to identify with that kind of heroine and be vicariously swept away. We were all virgins once upon a time. This experience takes us back to that time of relative innocence, and the historical setting, sense of isolation (no fast transport, internet, or cell phones), and the gentility of society at that time lends a sense of elegance, order, and propriety to the situation, in sharp contrast to today's world. Although I am an independent, self-sufficient woman of today, I find the past to be much simpler and slower paced than life is now. I agree with Fallover about this appeal of the historical settings.
In response to Fallover's request for recommended historical gothics, you might scan the book lists of recommended reads at GothicJournal.com. Those that are flagged "(gothic)" and do not have an asterisk by the book title are traditional historical gothics. These book lists go back about 10 years. As far as which authors I'd recommend, I personally love Jill Tattersall, Victoria Holt, and Dorothy Eden. I recently read Night's Dark Secrets by Margaret Campbell (Gabrielle Margaret Long), which was very well written and had oodles of interesting historical details. I've just received an order of 4 of her books written under the pseudonym Joseph Shearing, which I'm eager to delve into.
In response to Fallover's request for recommended historical gothics, you might scan the book lists of recommended reads at GothicJournal.com. Those that are flagged "(gothic)" and do not have an asterisk by the book title are traditional historical gothics. These book lists go back about 10 years. As far as which authors I'd recommend, I personally love Jill Tattersall, Victoria Holt, and Dorothy Eden. I recently read Night's Dark Secrets by Margaret Campbell (Gabrielle Margaret Long), which was very well written and had oodles of interesting historical details. I've just received an order of 4 of her books written under the pseudonym Joseph Shearing, which I'm eager to delve into.
