Fragment Archives

In a black and white film still, a woman points a small pistol at a man, the two staring at each other in early 20th century fashion.

How Can I Use That?: The Influences of Edward Gorey

Posted on 19 February 202519 February 2025 by The Gothic Dispatch

He famously read Dracula at the age of seven. From then on, Edward Gorey and his host of pale-skinned, dark-eyed characters feasted on culture wherever they could find it.

Join me in marking what would have been the 100th birthday of the Grandfather of Goth by digging into his biggest influences. Piece together the clues scattered throughout his life. Examine the strange and disturbing marks they left on his work. And hunt his favourite artists, writers and filmmakers around the world and through the centuries.

Goofy, Elegant Murders: The Essential Works of Edward Gorey

Posted on 17 February 202518 February 2025 by The Gothic Dispatch

Edward Gorey wrote 116 books of his own, illustrated more than 500 for other writers and left behind boxes of unfinished manuscripts. So, where should you start?

Join me in marking what would have been the 100th birthday of the Grandfather of Goth by picking out some of his most essential and influential stories. Learn why The Gashlycrumb Tinies and The Doubtful Guest are still delighting readers today. Discover disturbing stories you might have missed. And hear the writer-illustrator pick out his own favourites – before drawing your own conclusions.

I Waked One Morning From a Dream: What Is Gothic Literature?

Posted on 16 January 202516 January 2025 by The Gothic Dispatch

There have been many nights when I’ve laid awake wondering: What makes a book Gothic? Who decides what is and isn’t Gothic fiction? And why, why, why do I keep reading them?

It’s time to reveal the truth about Gothic literature. Together, we’ll unravel the fragments, falsehoods and frame narratives to separate fact from fiction. Interrogate Gothic literature’s most renowned writers – including Horace Walpole, Ann Radcliffe and Matthew Lewis. And find out why this obscure, 200-year-old genre is still haunting us today.