The only professor in gothic studies, William Hughes had a lot to live up to when he gave a talk at the Highworth Library on Monday 10 May for the Swindon Festival of Literature. And he didn’t fail to please the 35-strong crowd.

It was clear from the start that this man knew what he was talking about, as he took the group through from the start of gothic fiction – The Castle of Otranto in 1765 to the more recent Alien trilogy and Resident Evil films.

William Hughes

William Hughes

To help the audience understand the genre better, William set the scene – explaining the reasons for gothic fiction’s rise in the 18th century while the world was very serious and sombre.

And it seems that the beginning of new centuries bring new outbursts with different themes as the world becomes fearful of the unknown and current events spark unease, at least beneath the surface, of the population. It was certainly an interesting event, and one that will make people read gothic-themed texts with a fresh viewpoint.

William is professor of gothic studies at Bath Spa University and has penned books such as Beyond Dracula: Bram Stoker’s Fiction and its Cultural Context and co-authored many others on the gothic genre and Dracula.

By Jennifer Ockwell, Swindon Festival of Literature

The Swindon Festival of Literature is taking place now (3rd to 15th May 2010). Find out more about the Swindon Literature of Festival here:

http://www.swindonfestivalofliterature.co.uk/

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