Ann Radcliffe: A Gothic Heroine for Today

Ann Radcliffe (1764-1823) was “the great enchantress” of her generation, in the words of Thomas de Quincey. She changed the face of fiction in the Romantic period and shaped the development of Gothic romance. The extraordinary impact of her work also helped to cement an association between this genre and women writers and readers.But, of course, Radcliffe was far from the only woman writing Gothic fiction in the formative early days of the genre. This lecture will explore Radcliffe’s career in the context of the other women who inspired her, imitated her, and contested her vision of the Gothic.

Emeritus Professor Robert Miles is editing Radcliffe's A Sicilian Romance as part of The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Ann Radcliffe.From the evolution of Radcliffe's poeticism to her defining of the Gothic heroine, Miles highlights the importance and brilliance of Radcliffe's second novel.

Professor Dale Townshend and Dr Elizabeth Bobbitt are working together to edit Radcliffe's posthumous works for publication as part of The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Ann Radcliffe.From Gaston de Blondeville, Radcliffe's 1826 novel (and the only one to include a real ghost), to her wealth of poetry, Townshend and Bobbitt make the case for reading Radcliffe's lesser known - but equally fascinating - publications.

In the final decade of the eighteenth century, Ann Radcliffe revolutionized the British novel, creating a new psychological fiction of suspense that would come to be called “the Radcliffe school.”Blending travel and terror, poetry and adventure, her writing was more than merely popular; it made her a sensation across media.Radcliffe novels were adapted by dramatists for the stage; her poems were set to music by composers; and her most famous scenes reimagined visually by artists.Jane Austen and John Keats loved her works; Walter Scott and Charles Dickens found early inspiration in her scenes of terror and dread.In this episode, Professor Michael Gamer discusses Radcliffe’s life, writing, and the astounding influence she had on Romantic writing and culture.

Professor Angela Wright is undertaking the mighty task of editing Radcliffe's most popular novel, The Mysteries of Udolpho for publication as part of The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Ann Radcliffe.In this episode, Professor Wright considers the novel's unique and ground-breaking success, how Udolpho came to shape Radcliffe's reputation, and ultimately makes a case for why this classic Gothic text should be your next read.

Dr Deborah Russell has had the pleasure of editing Radcliffe's very first novel, The Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne, for publication as part of The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Ann Radcliffe.In this episode, Dr Russell discusses the novel's contemporary reception, what it reveals to us about Radcliffe's early writing process, and how this changed during the course of her career. Dr Russell reflects on her editing process, and makes a very strong case for why The Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne should be your next read.

Professor Michael Gamer recently completed the mammoth task of editing Radcliffe's The Italian, or the Confessional of the Black Penitents for publication as part of The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Ann Radcliffe.In this episode, he reflects on this process, provides insight into Radcliffe's contemporary reception, and explains how a handful of negative reviews impacted the novel's early reception. He discusses the unique villainy of the novel's antagonist, Schedoni, and makes a case for the significance and genius of The Italian.Ultimately, Professor Gamer explains why The Italian should take pride of place on your reading list.