Take a turn to the dark side this autumn as you explore the mystery and macabre of Elizabeth Gaskell’s Gothic writing.

Face the claustrophobic suspense of Lois the Witch, feel the supernatural terror of The Poor Clare and shiver in the snowy horror of The Old Nurse’s Story.

While the writings of a wife of a Unitarian minister may not be the first place to look for tales of terror and the supernatural, Elizabeth Gaskell wrote some classic horror stories with everything from highwaymen to family curses.

What is it about the Gothic and the short form in particular that appeals as a mode for certain forms of social criticism? What do these stories and their dalliances with the darkness have to say about patriarchal power, aristocratic pride, and the social status of women and children?

Get ready to step into the shadowy world of Elizabeth Gaskell’s Gothic with Dr Jen Baker.