Theology in the Early British and Irish Gothic, 17641834
By (author) Sam Hirst
Publication date:
11 July 2023Publisher
Anthem PressDimensions:
229x153mm6x9"
ISBN-13: 9781839981531
Theology in the Early British and Irish Gothic, 1764–1832 reassesses the relationship between contemporary theology and the Gothic. Investigating Gothic aesthetics, depictions of the supernatural and portrayals of religious organisations, it explores how the Gothic engages with contemporary theologies, both Dissenting and Anglican. Moving away from the emphasis on either a monolithic Protestantism or on the Gothic as a secular mode, it shows the ways in which the Gothic exploration of the transcendent and the obscure cannot be separated from the diverse theologies of its day. The project maps how the Gothic not only reflects but actively engages in the theological debates and controversies contemporary to its efflorescence.
‘In this excellent study, Sam Hirst meticulously explores the theological underpinnings of a broad range of early British and Irish Gothic fictions. As rigorously researched as it is elegantly written, the volume convincingly shows, in the end, how we ignore the Gothic’s abiding theological contexts and concerns to our peril.’ —Dale Townshend, Professor of Gothic Literature, Manchester Centre for Gothic Studies, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.