|
Ann Radcliffe (1764-1823)
Who?
Leading exponent of the Gothic novel, featuring horror stories set in lonely castles, graveyards or ruins.
Must reads
The Mysteries of Udolpho (1794) and The Italian (1797).
Darkest hour
In 1818, Northanger Abbey was published. Jane Austen wrote it to ridicule popular tales of romance and terror such as Radcliffe's.
Greatest triumph
After a lack of success with her first novel, The Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne (1789), which was set in Scotland, Radcliffe began to use as background the sublime landscapes and tempestuous weather of the Alps and Pyrenees, and in 1791 her novel, The Romance of the Forest, was a bestseller.
Essential quotes
'The Confessional of the Black Penitents' (subtitle of The Italian)
'His cowl as it threw a shade over the livid paleness of his face, increased its severe character, and gave an effect to his large melancholy eye, which approached to horror.' (The Italian)
Gossip
Despite the sensational nature of her romances, Ann and her husband, William Radcliffe, lived quietly. She made only one foreign trip and barely saw the exotic locations which she described so powerfully. So retiring were the couple that, towards the end of her life, there were rumours that she was already dead or insane.
Did u know?
Her novels were very popular across Europe and widely imitated. The enormous £500 advance she received for The Mysteries of Udolpho was totally unprecedented.
What to say
Radcliffe is the mother of horror movies, and is especially good at describing the horrific imaginings of someone who is left in solitude.
Don't say
Stephen King does it better.
Copies of the featured books can be purchased from various suppliers including Amazon, Blackwell's and WHSmith.
Channel 4 is not responsible for the content of third party sites
top
|
