De Quincey's Gothic Masquerade (Internationale Forschungen zur Allgemeinen und Vergleichenden Literaturwissenschaft 80)

De Quincey's Gothic Masquerade is what has long been needed, a study of Thomas De Quincey's Gothic and Gothic-related texts by a Germanist working on Gothic and specializing in Anglo-German literary relations. Variously identified as Gothic Hero, Gothic Parasite, and author of a Gothick sport, De Quincey is the dark horse of Gothicism, for while his work has, increasingly, been associated with Gothic, not one of the recent companions to Gothic so much as mentions his name. Definitions of what is meant by 'Gothic' have changed, of course, and are still evolving, claiming more territory all the time, but Gothic specialists also have their blind spots, of whom De Quincey is one. One reason for this state of affairs will be the fact that in his work the Gothic is interwoven with the German, to which modern English studies all too often turn a blind eye. In this timely study of his work in relation to Gothic convention the author addresses the question of De Quincey's reputed knowledge of German 'Gothic' Romantic literature and the related question of supposed German influences on his Gothic work, and shows that his fiction is not less but more original than has been thought. The texts examined are those on which, for better or worse, his reputation as a writer both of autobiography and of fiction depends. Focusing on the Gothic takes one to the heart of his literary masquerade, and more especially to the heart of his masked autobiographical enterprise. Gothic, because of its formulaic nature, represents a place where he belongs, a place where his sense of guilt can be seen as part of a wider pattern, thus countering his pariah self-image and enabling him to make some sort of sense of the Gothic ruin of his life. Addressed to all who are interested in De Quincey's work and its place in literary history, and to the many readers in the English and German-speaking worlds who share De Quincey's and the author's enthusiasm for Gothic, this book adds considerably to the scope of De Quincey studies, which it enables to move on from some of the main unanswered questions of the past. De Quincey's Gothicmasquerade Is What Has Long Been Needed, A Study Of Thomas De Quincey's Gothicand Gothic-related Texts By A Germanist Working On Gothicand Specializing In Anglo-german Literary Relations. Addressed To All Who Are Interested In De Quincey's Work And Its Place In Literary History, And To The Many Readers In The English And German-speaking Worlds Who Share De Quincey's And The Author's Enthusiasm For Gothic, This Book Adds Considerably To The Scope Of De Quincey Studies, Which It Enables To Move On From Some Of The Main Unanswered Questions Of The Past.--book Jacket. 1. Early Gothicreading -- Infant Literature -- Thomas De Quincey And Charles De Moor -- Teenage Gothicreading -- 2. Teutophilia -- Oxford, Van Haren And Schwartzburg -- J. H. Bohte -- 3. Translations From The German -- Gillies's German Stories -- De Quincey's Translations -- Sport Of Fortune (1821) -- Fatal Marksman (1823) -- Mr. Schnackenberger, The Dice, The King Of Hayti (1823) ; The Incognito, The Defier Of Ghosts (1824) -- Love-charm (1825) -- 4. De Quincey And Gothic -- Gothic -- De Quincey's Gothic -- De Quincey And The Devil's Elixir -- 5. Dream-texts -- Confessions Of An English Opium-eater (1822) -- Suspira De Profundis (1845-) -- English Mail-coach (1849) -- 6. Essays -- Historico-critical Inquiry Into The Origin Of The Rosicrucians (1824) And Secret Societies (1847) -- On Murder Considered As One Of The Fine Arts (1827) -- 7. Rifacimenti -- De Quincey, Gillies And Rifacimento -- Somnambulist (1824) -- Niels Klim's Journey To The World Under-ground (1822-28) -- Walladmor (1825) -- German Walladmor -- De Quincey's View Of The German Walladmor -- German Walladmor As Gothicnovel -- De Quincey's Walladmor (1825) -- Walladmor As Gothicnovel -- Schloss Avalon (1827) -- Spanish Military Nun (1847-54) -- 8. Fictions -- Stranger's Grave (1823) -- Peasant Of Portugal (1827) And The Cacadore (1828) -- Klosterheim (1832) -- Household Wreck (1838) -- Avenger (1838) -- 9. De Quincey And Kafka. Patrick Bridgwater. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [171]-178) And Index. Contents......Page 6 Preface......Page 8 Abbreviations......Page 10 1.1. Infant Literature......Page 12 1.2. Thomas de Quincey and Charles de Moor......Page 17 1.3. Teenage Gothic Reading......Page 21 2.1. Oxford, van Haren and Schwartzburg......Page 29 2.2. J. H. Bohte......Page 38 3.1. Gillies’s German Stories......Page 47 3.2. De Quincey’s Translations......Page 54 3.2.1. The Sport of Fortune (1821)......Page 55 3.2.2. The Fatal Marksman (1823)......Page 56 3.2.3. Mr. Schnackenberger, The Dice, The King of Hayti (1823); The Incognito, The Defier of Ghosts (1824)......Page 57 3.2.4. The Love-Charm (1825)......Page 59 4.1. Gothic......Page 61 4.2. De Quincey’s Gothic......Page 64 4.3. De Quincey and The Devil’s Elixir......Page 75 5. Dream-Texts......Page 81 5.1. Confessions of an English Opium-Eater (1822)......Page 86 5.2. Suspira de Profundis (1845-)......Page 90 5.3. The English Mail-Coach (1849)......Page 93 6.1. Historico-Critical Inquiry into the Origin of the Rosicrucians (1824) and Secret Societies (1847)......Page 95 6.2. On Murder Considered as one of the Fine Arts (1827)......Page 100 7.1. De Quincey, Gillies and rifacimento......Page 106 7.3. Niels Klim’s Journey to the World Under-Ground (1822-28)......Page 109 7.4.1. The German Walladmor......Page 111 7.4.2. De Quincey’s view of the German Walladmor......Page 116 7.4.3. The German Walladmor as Gothic Novel......Page 119 7.4.4. De Quincey’s Walladmor (1825)......Page 122 7.4.5. Walladmor as Gothic Novel......Page 125 7.5. Schloβ Avalon (1827)......Page 128 7.6. The Spanish Military Nun (1847-54)......Page 130 8. Fictions......Page 132 8.1. The Stranger’s Grave (1823)......Page 135 8.2. The Peasant of Portugal (1827) and The Caçadore (1828)......Page 137 8.3. Klosterheim (1832)......Page 138 8.4. The Household Wreck (1838)......Page 149 8.5. The Avenger (1838)......Page 152 9. De Quincey and Kafka......Page 158 Bibliography......Page 172 D......Page 180 H......Page 181 M......Page 182 S......Page 183 Z......Page 184