Yes, I am under the weather. Sigh. I don’t often get sick so this is a bummer. Pity me…
Stephanie, over at Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust did take pity on me, and she sent me an article about a soon to be published work of homegrown Gothic Romance. She knows I’m a huge Jane Eyre fan. Team Bronte all the way!
Steph is from Maine and there is a project at the University of Maine, Machias, to resurrect the very first novel published in Maine - Julia and the Illuminated Baron, by Sally Sayward Wood, of York, first published in 1800 by Oracle Press in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. More importantly, this was the first Gothic novel ever published by a woman in the United States. The book has been out of print for 212 years. This is a good year to bring it back to life, don’t you think, in the year 2012? There’s a certain symmetry to that.
I am gonna get me a copy of that book. Now that’s an interesting prospect.
“Julia and the Illuminated Baron is a gothic tale of intrigue and romance. Set in France during the time of the French revolution, it tells the story of a beautiful young woman of impeccable virtues. She falls in love with a baron who is a member of a secret society, the Illuminati. He subjects Julia to his obsessions and imprisonment.
“By today’s standards of gothic writing, Julia and the Illuminated Baron is tame. Wood populated her story with castles, crypts, cemeteries and suspense, but it does not have the blood and gore that people expect in gothic novels today.”
No blood and gore? Well, that’s all right by me. I’ll have to get my gore-fix via A Game of Thrones now that The Walking Dead is on hiatus.
Related posts:
- Romance Books R Us Author Katalina Leon is talking about my new books, her...
- Meet Romance Author Diane Story. Doesn’t she have the most perfect name for a romance...
- Soap Operas, romantic fantasies in sixty minutes or less. Did your grandmother watch her stories, or your mom her...
- Julia’s Journey to the Dark Side. That’s enough of the third person. I actually feel very...
- Penny and Julia’s morning walk in Napa. Head over here for some photos. Penny was really impressed...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Aw, I hope you feel better soon! We’ve had the weirdest weather, it seems like everyone’s walking around sneezing or coughing. Hand me the Purell.
Love the sound of the book - my grandma used to buy these horrid little gothic romance novels that were all the same but I just ate them up. I haven’t read a good one in ages.
Feel better Julia.
That novel sounds fabulous…I totally want to read it!
Feel better, missy….I had my horrible bout with sickness recently, too. Sending you virtual chicken soup!
U R so Clever! S
Funny, Alma Katsu spoke Saturday at the Maine Festival of the Book about how her work was influenced by her love of the Gothic novel. Here I rarely give the Gothic thought in a given year and fate has placed it under my nose 2x in 2 days.
I’d love to see a real resurgence of Gothic fiction. I remember how luscious and formal the dialogue was. I loved reading it aloud. I will look for this book.
Thank you so much for sharing this!
Feel better soon.
XXOO Kat
Thanks, Kat. Have a leftover headache. But overall better!
I love Gothic, Jaye. It’s so so Gothic! You’re right, very lush. I doubt many copies will be printed, unfortunately.
Give it thought, Steph! I love Gothic novels. Fate is telling you something!
Thanks, Penny. I know, you sent your sickness my way, because you are a very generous person!
Thanks, Amber!
Hi Barbara! My problem is my doctor husband who catches stuff from his patients and then brings it home. I rarely get sick. I do love those Gothic romances. I see UF as an extension of the Gothic romance.
I hope you feel better soon!
Feel better and get lots of rest..
Thanks, Savannah, thanks Casey!