At Your Peril

The bizarre world of Gothic Literature and bibliomania explored
Friday, 28 November 2014, 2.00pm - 4.30 pm
at the City Library, Newcastle upon Tyne

From wild and remote landscapes to vulnerable heroines; from violent and erotic fantasies to supernatural and uncanny happenings, Dr Gail-Nina Anderson explores the key motifs of her favourite Gothic fiction, and how these works reflect the political, social and cultural contexts in which they were written.

Gothic literature is a popular field for avid book collectors. This afternoon also features a panel of collectors of the weird, the supernatural and more, to answer questions, talk about their literary passions, and show some fine examples of the genre.

In addition to giving a lively and interesting lecture, she brought along a little coffin complete with Dracula (from Transylvania) and a collection of fluffy bats! (The shadow is from the speaker's hand.)

I can't see me starting a book collection of Gothic novels in the near future.

Since if was Black Friday, what a stupid concept, we took the train to Newcastle and taxi to the Library for the talk, expecting the city to be heaving. It was quiet.

Mum's Ecco shoes, perhaps older than we realised, chose to fall apart during the afternoon.......

Otherwise, it has been a grey, damp day.