In the last 4 yrs, I've studied 19th C English Literature. I love it so much that whilst I do read modern books, for me, there's nothing like 19th Century Literature, especially Sensation Literation.
What is 19th Century Sensation Literature? For the purpose of definition, we define 19th Century Literature as " The Long 19th Century " which runs from the late 1700s to 1914, the onset of the Great War. Everything changed after that event!
In my 19th Century studies, I have covered Traditional Tales, Gothic Literature, Fallen Women, Sensation Literature, Female Authors and Early Detective Fiction. I have found it all personally empowering and enhancing.
Here we are looking at Gothic and Sensation Literature.
The genre that I have enjoyed the most has been 19th Century English Sensation Literature.
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Comments
Good Evening Derdriu, You make several finely drawn points.
The Moonstone is one of Wilkie Collins " Big 4 " books, - Armadale, No Name, Woman in White and The Moonstone. I have read all of these. You make an excellent point in that there is an overlap between the different genres.
Another interesting point is that Characters names at this time are often significant. Think of Dorian Gray and his other self - Doppleganger - DG Dopple ganger D for Dorian G for Gray. Dr Jeckyl / Mr Hyde - Hyde being his hidden self.
As I say, 19th Century Literature is so different that it takes a while but I read mostly 19th C now. I find there are more subplots, well-drawn characters and descriptions than in modern literature.
I agree that the link between Sensation Literature and opera is an interesting and probable one. I can see that in its time, Sensation was quite a departure and therefore shock to the middle-class readers.
So many points to pick up on, thank you for your input.
Veronica, Thank you for practical information, pretty pictures and product lines.
On this side of the pond, Wilkie Collins perhaps attracts attention most as author of The Moonstone. Is that novel known on your side of the pond, and was it perhaps covered in early detective literature?
It's interesting that the villainess of Armadale has the name Lydia Gwuilt, the last perhaps alerting readers to the fact that she's guilty (gwilt-y ;-D) of villainy.
It's completely understandable from what you write why sensation literature has its appeal. But how easy is it to find it to read?
In a somewhat related direction, may not one say in a way that opera is sensation music what with some of its plots overlapping with the ones that you mention and with some of its "bad guys" really being such "bad girls" as Amneris and Carmen?
BSG, Great point
Yes, and we are looking at the near ending European Mini Ace Age too which could be an entire article in itself.
I like the reason behind Frankenstein being penned, the cold, wet summer due to ash reflecting sunlight following a volcanic eruption caused three vacationing friends (the Shelleys and Lord Byron) to have a writing contest. The year 1816 is known as the year without a summer, because there was no last freeze, hence no crops.