09-17-2007, 08:37 PM
Thanks paigenumber for the additions!
I haven't read the Nora Lofts novel, but I'll look into it.
Mary Roberts Rinehart is best known for "The Circular Staircase," which definitely has some Gothic elements. Her novels were written before "Rebecca," however, so they are a lacking that romatic influence and come across more as straight mysteries with some slight Gothic trappings. But you're right, she deserves inclusion on the list. I'd put "The Circular Staircase" on there as it was hugely popular, spawned a popular play called "The Bat" (which was then novelized as "The Bat" and attributed to Rinehart--but it was written by someone else!) "The Bat" then spawned several movie versions.
Thanks for the Virginia Coffman suggestion. I'll look it up and then add it to our list under #11. When I get a minute, I'll redo the opening post so it has an updated list.
I think you feel about Mary Stewart the way I do.
Her "Golden Age of Gothic" (in my opinion) began with her first novel and ended with "Touch Not the Cat." Any one of those books could probably be included on this list.
Believe it or not, nobody has ever (publically anyway) done a list like this. I've been looking for awhile. So, if we get enough people's input, this may actually be a very helpful internet resource. We could even get a link from wikipedia. For someone just starting out in the genre, it could be very useful.
I haven't read the Nora Lofts novel, but I'll look into it.
Mary Roberts Rinehart is best known for "The Circular Staircase," which definitely has some Gothic elements. Her novels were written before "Rebecca," however, so they are a lacking that romatic influence and come across more as straight mysteries with some slight Gothic trappings. But you're right, she deserves inclusion on the list. I'd put "The Circular Staircase" on there as it was hugely popular, spawned a popular play called "The Bat" (which was then novelized as "The Bat" and attributed to Rinehart--but it was written by someone else!) "The Bat" then spawned several movie versions.
Thanks for the Virginia Coffman suggestion. I'll look it up and then add it to our list under #11. When I get a minute, I'll redo the opening post so it has an updated list.
I think you feel about Mary Stewart the way I do.
Her "Golden Age of Gothic" (in my opinion) began with her first novel and ended with "Touch Not the Cat." Any one of those books could probably be included on this list. Believe it or not, nobody has ever (publically anyway) done a list like this. I've been looking for awhile. So, if we get enough people's input, this may actually be a very helpful internet resource. We could even get a link from wikipedia. For someone just starting out in the genre, it could be very useful.
