Overview

Unlike many horror fiction and fantasy writers, Clive Barker is true to the literary heritage of the genre. Though aware of the importance of entertainment in his writing, he embraces the traditional formulas of horror fiction and builds upon them, all the while alluding to the works of Dante, Poe, Mary Shelley, and others. The complexity of Barker's writing is best evidenced in the six volume Books of Blood. Many of these short stories are entertaining ""hair raisers,"" yet they do not revel in gratuitous violence, instead relying on style and a masterful sense of language to entertain. This detailed study analyzes the significant themes in Barker's writing, placing him in the British Gothic tradition of Marlowe, Saki and others.

Full Product Details

Author:   Gary Hoppenstand
Publisher:   McFarland & Co Inc
Imprint:   McFarland & Co Inc
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 1.20cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.318kg
ISBN:  

9780786493555

ISBN 10:   0786493550
Pages:   231
Publication Date:   06 December 2013
Recommended Age:   From 18 years
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Available To Order  
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Table of Contents

Table of Contents Acknowledgments Foreword: Regarding Imagination as Metaphor by Olive Barker Introduction: Exiting Banality: A Personal Journey 1. Text and Subtext: Olive Barker and the State of Horror 2. Highways of the Dead: Olive Barker’s Books of Blood, Volume One 3. New Murders, Ancient Evils: Olive Barker’s Books of Blood, Volume Two 4. Confessions of a Dark Fancy: Olive Barker’s Books of Blood, Volume Three 5. Sexual and Political Puzzles: Olive Barker’s Books of Blood, Volume Four 6. Mother’s Fine Children: Olive Barker’s Books of Blood, Volume Five 7. Twilight and Other Illusions: Olive Barker’s Books of Blood, Volume Six 8. Embracing Imagination: Uncollected Short Fiction and Final Comments Works Cited Selected Bibliography Index 217

Reviews

Gives serious literary and structural attention to each of the stories...recommended -Choice well-written and intelligent; recommended -Interzone a detailed analysis -Reference & Research Book News

Gives serious literary and structural attention to each of the stories...recommended -<em>Choice</em><br><br> well-written and intelligent; recommended -<em>Interzone</em><br><br> a detailed analysis -<em>Reference & Research Book News</em>

“Gives serious literary and structural attention to each of the stories...recommended”—Choice; “well-written and intelligent...recommended”—Interzone; “a detailed analysis”—Reference & Research Book News.

Gives serious literary and structural attention to each of the stories...recommended -Choice well-written and intelligent; recommended -Interzone a detailed analysis -Reference & Research Book News

Author Information

Award winner Gary Hoppenstand is a professor in the department of English at Michigan State University. He has published numerous books and more than sixty scholarly articles on topics ranging from popular culture studies to literary studies to media studies. He lives in Holt, Michigan.

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