From the prolific English gothic horror novelist, The Castle of Wolfenbach is Eliza Parsons' masterpiece and an important early influence in the genre. Follow the captivating journey of Matilda, a young and courageous heroine, as she runs from her abusive uncle and finds herself entangled in a web of mystery and peril. Finding refuge in an eerie castle haunted by a tragic past, Matilda's life takes a sinister turn. As she unravels the secrets concealed within the castle's walls, she uncovers chilling family secrets, forbidden romances, and encounters a malevolent presence that threatens her very existence. This volume is part of the Mothers of the Macabre series, celebrating the gothic horror masterpieces of pioneering women writers who played a pivotal role in shaping and advancing the genre.
The Castle of Wolfenbach (1793) is a novel by Eliza Parsons. Employing themes common to the popular genre of Gothic fiction, Parsons crafts a chilling tale of murder and mystery that remains uniquely entertaining to this day. Referred to as a “horrid” novel in Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, The Castle of Wolfenbach was recognized as a terrifying precursor to such classics as Ann Radcliffe’s The Mysteries of Udolpho (1794), often considered the quintessential Gothic novel. Orphaned as a young girl, Matilda Weimar is raised by her uncle, a domineering figure whose attentions soon turn abusive. Left with no choice, Matilda flees with her trusted servant Albert. They arrive after some time in the harsh countryside at the cottage of Pierre and Jaqueline, who have only one bed and no food to offer. Desperate, Matilda and Albert make their way to the haunted Castle of Wolfenbach, where caretakers Joseph and Bertha offer to give them shelter. Although they seem hesitant, the caretakers reveal that the Count was a terrible man who left his wife and children to die in captivity and advise their unexpected guests to be gone by morning. As night falls, Matilda hears strange sounds coming from inside the castle, and sneaks up into the tower to investigate. There, she encounters a woman and her servant, who are surprised to find a stranger in their midst. Sensing their sympathy, Matilda recounts the story of her life. The next day, after Matilda and Albert have left for France, the castle burns to the ground—but its mystery remains. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Eliza Parsons’ The Castle of Wolfenbach is a classic of British horror fiction reimagined for modern readers.
A woman visits a haunted castle, and two friends share tales of the supernatural in these two gothic novels featured in Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. In Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, the main character, Catherine, receives a reading list of gothic novels. Once thought to be fabricated by Austen, these novels were rediscovered in the 1920s and are now referred to as the “Northanger Horrid Novels.” Two of the Northanger Horrid Novels, The Castle of Wolfenbach and The Necromancer, are presented here as A Northanger Double Feature. With hidden identities, damsels in distress, creepy castles, and villainous Counts, The Castle of Wolfenbach (1793) is a showcase for the gothic genre. The story follows the beautiful Matilda as she escapes unwanted advances, braves the haunted castle, and attempts to find safety, and maybe even love, all while being pursued by her murderous uncle. The Castle of Wolfenbach is Eliza Parsons’s most famous novel and an important foundational work in the gothic genre. The Necromancer (1794) is by far the strangest of the Northanger Horrid Novels. The story begins with two friends, Herman and Hellfried, passing a stormy night by exchanging supernatural stories. The weirdness continues to unfold through a series of letters. The work is an example of the gothic genre’s use of framing narratives surrounding first person accounts from multiple characters. The Necromancer takes this trope to staggering heights by nesting multiple narratives inside each other. The resulting stories are a bizarre collection of violence and supernatural shenanigans centered around the mysterious Valkert, who is rumored to have returned from the dead. Both of these stories are amazing examples of early gothic works and can be enjoyed as such for fans of the genre or read as a companion to Austen’s Northanger Abbey./
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