Day 12

i have a manuscript

i must be a writer

not.

G... is for Gothic Fiction

I'm a big fan of gothic themes. I enjoy reading such novels immensely. One of the finest examples of gothic novels, in my opinion is Rebecca. What a tale! The second Mrs de Winter, nameless, faceless is constantly living under the shadow of the former Mrs de Winter, Rebecca. The primary gothic features are presented by Mrs Danvers, Rebecca's nanny and later housekeeper, whose sole aim in life is to preserve her child's presence, and to this end, she makes life at Manderley, dark, very dark.
Another stunning example of such a novel I read in recent times is Orkney, by Amy Sackville. This book has touched me in ways I have not thought possible. I was swept away by the passion in the story, terrified by its darkness, and it has refused to leave my head, even after a year after I read it. Read my review here.
For poems, Plath and Donne are magicians!
Oh, and do read both these books!

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This is the seventh post for the April A-to-Z Blogging Challenge 2014.
Previously, Archaism, British literature, Critical Analysis, Drama, Edinburgh, Faust

F... is for Faust

About three years ago, I went to the Delhi World Book Fair with no TBR list. I walked around with no aim, picking up books that caught my fancy, ones that I'd heard were good, ones that looked like they'd be good etc. Good times... and I was earning at the time, so I splurged! One of the books that I bought and later read was Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. I knew that it had something to do with Satan, and I really liked the name of the author.
I wasn't disappointed. Faust is the tale of a very learned young scholar, who sells his soul to the Devil and makes a pact with his advocate for years and years of power. In the degree that I'm currently studying towards, I'm required to read The Tragic History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe, same plot. Both texts I have thoroughly enjoyed. There is something truly wonderful and sinister about making a pact with the Devil himself, and I really think that each one of us should be put through that test. No, I'm not religious, but I do like the symbolism of it. And I thoroughly believe that all the so-called enlightened will fail the test.
Anyway, you must read one or both of these works about Faust, they are filled with intrigue and excitement. I have loved the characters and dark dark plot. As one would expect, the ending is tragic. Goethe's Faust is also filled with beautiful and lyrical poetry and is an excellent mix of prose and poetry, great for those who aren't comfortable with a body of work that is complete poetry, like Milton's Paradise Lost.

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This is the sixth post for the April A-to-Z Blogging Challenge 2014.
Previously, Archaism, British literature, Critical Analysis, Drama, Edinburgh