The Haunted House in Women’s Ghost Stories

This book examines haunted houses in female-authored ghost stories, focusing on themes of unease and confinement. It draws on spatial theory to analyze the interplay between ghosts, women, and domestic spaces.

The Haunted House in Women’s Ghost Stories delves into the portrayal of haunted houses in ghost stories written by women during the Victorian and modernist periods. It examines how these narratives serve as representations of the architectural uncanny, shedding light on the complex relationship between gender and the supernatural. The book emphasizes themes of unease, denial, disorientation, confinement, and claustrophobia within domestic spaces, offering a fresh perspective on how women authors navigate these concepts.

Drawing from the spatial theories of thinkers such as Gaston Bachelard, Henri Lefebvre, and Elizabeth Grosz, the text analyzes how ghosts, women, and servants reclaim and reinterpret spaces. This exploration highlights the tension between historical contexts and modernity, showcasing a variety of haunted settings, including ancestral homes, ghostly gardens, suburban villas, and decaying churches. Each chapter presents a unique perspective on how these spaces reflect broader societal issues and the experiences of women.

The book also engages with the non-fiction writing of women on topics such as architecture, travel, and the concept of the ideal home. It features discussions on notable authors like Elizabeth Gaskell, Margaret Oliphant, and Edith Wharton, among others. This work is a valuable resource for students and researchers interested in ghost stories, Female Gothic literature, and the writings of Victorian and modernist women, as well as for general readers intrigued by the supernatural.