Gaslamp Horror Icons: Unmasking Forgotten Authors
Within the darkened corridors of Victorian literature, a tapestry of Gaslamp Horror was woven by both celebrated authors and hidden gems whose names have been overshadowed by time. These forgotten authors, their words long confined to the pages of forgotten volumes, possess the power to illuminate the eerie corners of the past and shed light on the intricacies of the Gaslamp Horror genre. As we unmask these literary enigmas, we embark on a journey of discovery, uncovering the legacy of those who dared to conjure the uncanny.
Rekindling the Flickering Flames
Certain authors have been overshadowed by their more renowned colleagues in the annals of Gaslamp Horror, yet their contributions to the genre are still impactful. The allure of these hidden luminaries lies not only in their tales but in their unique perspectives, which offer us a window into the lesser-explored aspects of the Victorian era.
The Forgotten Architects of Dread
A pioneer of the short story, Edgar Allan Poe perfected the tale of psychological horror. Not every author is as popular as Poe, but some did pen stories with a psychological theme.
One such author is Rhoda Broughton. She was known for her Gothic and supernatural tales. In her story Behold, It Was a Dream! she delves into the psychological torment of a character haunted by recurring nightmares, blurring the lines between reality and the supernatural.
Vernon Lee, the pseudonym of Violet Paget, crafted supernatural tales that often explored the psychological and uncanny. Her story A Wicked Voice delves into the eerie consequences of a man's obsession with the voice of a deceased woman.
Amelia B. Edwards, an Egyptologist and novelist, penned The Phantom Coach, a chilling tale set in the desolate moors. The story follows a traveller's encounter with a spectral coach that leads to a series of supernatural events.
Their ability to conjure atmospheres of dread and weave them into the fabric of Victorian society invites us to contemplate how their stories intersected with the anxieties, desires, and curiosities of their readers.
Themes of the Obscure and Unseen
The famous HP Lovecraft quote, ‘The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown,’ comes to mind.
A prolific writer and folklorist, Sabine Baring-Gould's stories often delved into the world of folklore, legends, and the occult. His collection Curious Myths of the Middle Ages explores lesser-known myths and supernatural tales from the past.
Violet Hunt’s tales explore themes that echo the societal fears and obsessions of their era. The stories often contained elements of the supernatural and the occult. In The Prayer, she explores the concept of spiritualism and the boundaries between the living and the dead.
Margaret Oliphant wrote a variety of supernatural stories that explored the enigmatic and hidden aspects of life. In her story The Open Door, a mysterious doorway leads to unsettling revelations.
The unseen forces that haunt their narratives may symbolize the unspoken truths and hidden aspects of Victorian society, inviting us to consider how these stories provided a means of grappling with the unknown.
Bringing Lost Voices to Light
Through these writings, we not only resurrect forgotten voices but also uncover layers of intrigue, uncovering the subtleties that give their stories resonance. Exploring their narratives sheds light on how Gaslamp Horror transcended the superficial thrill of scares, delving into the psychological, societal, and emotional complexities of the Victorian psyche.
As we unmask these forgotten authors of Gaslamp Horror, we engage in an act of literary resurrection, breathing life back into tales that have lingered in obscurity for too long. By examining the works of these hidden icons, we gain a richer understanding of the diverse tapestry of Victorian horror, uncovering gems that contribute to the genre's evolution. In the process, we honour the legacy of authors who, though forgotten by history, continue to cast long shadows that stretch across the boundaries of time and genre.
What an extraordinary mine of knowledge and opinion there exists in old books - and how valuable it is to root through them for forgotten gems! There have been 129,864,880 books published since the invention of Gutenberg's printing press (says Mr Google) - even if 99% of them were utter piffle that would still leave over a million volumes worth recall.
Vernon Lee has been on my tbr for a while! Great recs