The Gothic Romance Wave

<p> The late 1960s and early 1970s saw the birth of modern feminism the sexual revolution and strong growth in the mass-market publishing industry. Women made up a large part of the book market and Gothic fiction became a higher popular staple. Victoria Holt Mary Stewart and Phyllis Whitney emerged as prominent authors while the standardized paperback Gothic sold in the millions. Pitched at middle-class women of all ages Gothics paved the way for contemporary fiction categories such as urban fantasy paranormal romance and vampire erotica.</p><p> Though not as popular today as they once were Gothic paperbacks retain a cult following--and the books themselves have become collectors' items. They were also the first popular novels to present strong heroines as agents of liberation and transformation.</p><p> This work offers the missing chapters of the Gothic story from the imaginative creations of Ann Radcliffe and the Bronte sisters to the bestseller <I>50 Shades of Grey</I>.</p>