What's your favorite classic gothic book?

[random capitals]

I also love Wuthering Heights, although purists may protest that it's not a real Gothic romance. I'm not one of those though.

Purists would probably protest that it wasn't a romance at all-gothic or otherwise, Desdemona. No happy ever afters for Heathcliffe and Cathy. But I'm willing to take up the bat for it being a gothic. But no matter what we call it, we love it nonetheless.

[lordontranto]

As I'm new to the forum, I figure I'll start sharing right away. I would have to say my favorite Gothic Novel would be a tie between three, Mary Shelly's Frankenstein, Horace Walpole's Castle Otranto and Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. The reason I cant decide is that they each bring something new to the table, Otranto could well be the first of its kind, Frankenstein is just amazing, (Ruined by contemporary takes) and Heart of Darkness is just a majestic look at the dark side of man. I believe each of these is a must read.

[Valancourt]

Easy one for me!

Mysteries of Udolpho by the mistress of enchantment Ann Radcliffe.

I love love love this book!

But I have dozens of other favourites of the older gothic lit. books. I love the 50's, 60's and 70's Gothic romances, nothing from today.

A few other older ones:

Uncle Silas
Midnight Bell
The Italian
Romance of the Forest
Castle of Wolfenbach
The Monk
Varney the Vampire
The Haunted Palace


Well I could go on and on It's a HUGE passion of mine!

[romanticdress]

Phantoms by Ivan Turgenyev.
Dracula and Dracula´s guest by Bram Stoker
Clarimonde by Theophile Gautier
Carmilla by Sheridan LeFanu
Honorable mentions:
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
The strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by R L Stevenson
Vampyre by John Polidori

[I am Heathcliff]

My favorite is Wuthering Heights and it is a definate gothic romance, this is where the whole party started. Emily gives us love with its beauty and its ugliness.

[scoobertina]

I have to go with the classic Jane Eyre.

[Bellatrix Lestrange]

Hey Cat Freak I'm with you on Wuthering Heights. It is my all time favourite book.

I also love Wuthering Heights, although purists may protest that it's not a real Gothic romance. I'm not one of those though.

Although im fan of "Wuthering Heights" i find Jane Eyre to be a much more likeable and realistic character than Catherine. i just find the whole relationship between Cathy and Heathcliff annoyingly melodramatic at some points. "Jane Eyre" is both fantastically written, and to a certain extent, more realistic.

Dracula is my all time favourite vampire novel hands down. Stoker's son later wrote a sequel to it called "Dracula, the Undead" which is an admittedly camp title, but i found the book quite engaging.

Rebecca is another fav of mine

[The Ming]

Although im fan of "Wuthering Heights" i find Jane Eyre to be a much more likeable and realistic character than Catherine. i just find the whole relationship between Cathy and Heathcliff annoyingly melodramatic at some points. "Jane Eyre" is both fantastically written, and to a certain extent, more realistic.

I adore Jane Eyre, it's one of my all time favourite novels since I read it first when I was about 12. Jane Eyre is a great character and Rochester is the perfect hero, IMO, flawed but redeemed at the end. We had to read Wuthering Heights at school and I hated it. The characters are horrible and the entire story is bleak and I agree it's quite unrealistic.

I also enjoyed the Tenant of Wildfell Hall, I don't think it is as Gothic as either WH or JE but it's quite a good read.

[Lord stumbleforth]

Uncle Silas by sheridan le fanu

[romanticdress]

Phantoms by Ivan Turgenyev.
Dracula and Dracula´s guest by Bram Stoker
Clarimonde by Theophile Gautier
Carmilla by Sheridan LeFanu
Honorable mentions:
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
The strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by R L Stevenson
Vampyre by John Polidori

These and:
Vampire and Pale lady by Alexandre Dumas