Gothic Literary Travel and Tourism
Author(s) Alex Bevan
Language: English
Genre(s): Literary Criticism
Series: Gothic Literary Studies
- May 2023 · 192 pages ·216x138mm
- · Hardback - 9781786839947
- · eBook - pdf - 9781786839954
- · eBook - epub - 9781786839961
About The Book
Gothic tourism is a growing phenomenon and a medium through which Gothic fictions and folkloric tales are re-imagined and generated. This book examines the complex relationship between contemporary English Gothic attractions and storytelling, uncovering how works of Gothic fiction can both inspire Gothic tourism and emerge from the spaces of Gothic tourism, contending that Gothic tourist attractions are multi-layered storytelling experiences. Contributing to the study of literature and place, Gothic Literary Travel and Tourism draws together the study of literary Gothic tourism and spatial philosophy, offering interdisciplinary analysis into the interface between Gothic narrative(s) and the spaces in which the tourist navigates. The storytelling practices taking place in Gothic caves, theme parks, ghost tours and rural walks serve to reflect contemporary fears and anxieties. This book situates the act of touring a Gothic site as a process of literary and social discovery.
Endorsements
‘Drawing on the intrinsically ‘place-based’ nature of the Gothic, Alex Bevan’s use of first-hand field research and detailed scholarship has resulted in a fascinating analysis of Gothic storytelling spaces as potential and actual sites of literary tourism. Evaluating the allure of sites and visitor experiences as diverse as Theme Parks, Cave tours and Ghost Walks, Bevan emphasises how these locations generate a Gothic literary response, as well as how narratives such as Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey might be re-read through the lens of theme park Gothic. Alongside sites of actual tourism, Bevan addresses the creation of sites of so-called dark tourism, inspired by real-life events such as Operation Yewtree. This is a topical, wide-ranging, highly engaging and original study of Gothic literary travel and tourism.’
Lucie Armitt, Professor in Contemporary English Literature, University of Lincoln
'A rich and thought-provoking tour of contemporary Gothic tourism. From theme park rollercoaster rides to witchcraft walks, Bevan maps out ways in which historical, literary, and folkloric narratives inform sites of Gothicised entertainment. This book marks an important scholarly advance in our understanding of the performative and immersive nature of twenty-first century storytelling.'
Dr Karl Bell, Reader in Cultural and Social History, University of Portsmouth
Contents
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Part One: Theme Park Gothic
1.Scare Mazes
2.Gothic Attractions
Part Two: Guided Gothic Tours
3.Ghost Walks
4.Cave Tours
Part Three: Self-Guided Gothic Walks
5.Rural Ghost Walks
6.The Lancashire Witches Walk
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Index