The Gothic and the Rule of the Law, 1764-1820

The Gothic and the Rule of Law is the first full-length theoretical and historical study of the relation between early Gothic fiction and an emerging modern rule of law. The work identifies not only a political and cultural, but also an ontological relation between what critics have conceptualized as 'Gothic' and the nature and function of modern juridical power. It represents a highly significant contribution to Gothic criticism and to law and literature scholarship. Literary Studies In Recent Years Have Begun To Consider The Juridical Contexts Of Early Gothic Fiction. Similarly, Contemporary Critical Legal Theory (notably 'law And Literature' Jurisprudence) Has Increasingly Put Into Play 'gothic' Tropes And Themes As A Means Of Interrogating The Nature And Function Of Modern Law. The Gothic And The Rule Of Law Is The First Work To Bring Together These Two Contemporary Developments In Law And Literature: The Text Offers A New Theoretical Understanding Of The Relation Between What The West Terms 'law' And What It Has Come In The Last 250 Years To Term 'gothic'. In Particular, It Explores The Presence Of The Gothic Within The Modern Rule Of Law And Makes The Case That The Gothic Is Ultimately More Than A Literary Genre: It Is A Politically Powerful Cultural And Aesthetic Mode Of Critical Engagement With The 'disavowed Ghosts' Of A Modern, 'gothic' Juridical Power. Introduction: Thresholds -- Fictions Of Origin -- 'written In The Black Letter': The Gothic And/in The Rule Of Law -- Spectres Of Law In The Castle Of Otranto -- Clara Reeve And The Problem Of Romance -- The Law's Gothic Space: Sophia Lee's The Recess -- A Maternal Tale Unfolds: Radcliffean Gothic -- A Supplement: Gaston De Blondeville -- Before The Law: Godwin's Caleb Williams -- In Excess: St Leon And Melmoth The Wanderer -- Conclusion: Frankenstein -- Reproducing The Gothic. Sue Chaplinches Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-viii Introduction: Thresholds....Pages 1-18 Fictions of Origin....Pages 19-36 ‘Written in the Black Letter’: The Gothic and/in the Rule of Law....Pages 37-54 Spectres of Law in The Castle of Otranto....Pages 55-65 Clara Reeve and the Problem of Romance....Pages 66-83 The Law’s Gothic Space: Sophia Lee’s The Recess ....Pages 84-94 A Maternal Tale Unfolds — Radcliffean Gothic....Pages 95-115 A Supplement — Gaston de Blondeville....Pages 116-124 Before the Law — Godwin’s Caleb Williams....Pages 125-142 In Excess — Godwin’s St Leon and Maturin’s Melmoth the Wanderer....Pages 143-164 Conclusion: Frankenstein — Reproducing the Gothic....Pages 165-177 Back Matter....Pages 178-183 This book is the first full-length theoretical and historical study of the relation between early Gothic fiction and an emerging modern rule of law. The work identifies not only a political and cultural, but also an ontological relation between what critics have conceptualized as 'Gothic' and the nature and function of modern juridical power. This work identifies not only a political and cultural, but also an ontological relation between what critics have conceptualised as 'Gothic' and the nature and function of modern juridical power. It represents a highly significant contribution to Gothic criticism and to law and literature scholarship