Tailored specifically for students new to the daunting field of literary theory Fred Bottings Gothic is a clear & welcome introduction to the study of this compelling genre. This lucid easy-to-follow guide: * Explains the transformations of the genre through history * Outlines all the major figures which define the genre such as ghosts monsters & vampires * Charts key texts over two centuries * Traces origins of the form * Looks at the cultural & historical location of gothic images & texts * Provides a succinct introduction to the field which is also an excellent foundation for further study.