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Gothic fiction and gothic horror are interchangeable terms. They refer to a writing style that has a dense atmosphere and romantic elements. Gothic fiction has a unique way of provoking horror, making it one of the most popular forms of horror in the world. It began in the 18th century and remains a living genre today.

Dark manors, ruined castles, oppressive gray skies and stormy nights are classic elements in gothic horror. These stories often portray devoted scientists or mystics, a curse that has haunted a family for generations, things go bump in the night, and, often, lycanthropes, vampires, ghosts, devils and other monstrous villains. Mary Shelley, Ann Radcliffe, and Edgar Allen Poe are some of the most famous names in gothic fiction, but there are many more. Other authors who have created remarkable works in the Gothic tradition are Oscar Wilde, Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu, Ambrose Bierce and many others. The Castle of Oranto by Horace Walpole, published in 1764, is considered to be the first Gothic novel.

Gothic fiction tends to seem doomed, and very dark humor is often interwoven into the plot. Real villains are sometimes very sympathetic characters, and often characters that embody an element of irony: a corrupt and evil clergy; a handsome nobleman with an ugly soul; a brilliant scientist or occultist who cannot see the obvious error in his views – all these are characters in various Gothic stories. Strange fiction and gothic fiction also share some elements in common, and the authors of Strange Fiction, including HP Lovecraft, were not afraid to dip their pens in the blackest ink at times.

Many works of art include Gothic elements in their stories, but they are not gothic stories in and of themselves. There is also a modern subculture, which is commonly called Gothic. Victorian fashion, an abundance of black clothes and a somewhat sinister elegance are the hallmarks of this subculture and the aesthetics of the subculture, right down to the aesthetics of the Gothic novel.

Gothic horror remains very popular today. Gothic imagery can be seen in everything from superhero movies to children’s cartoons. Gothic fiction also has an impact on cultures around the world. For example, some of the most popular Japanese horror films definitely have gothic features. Further variations of this literary style have developed over the years, such as Southern Gothic, which originated in the American South and included some of the most respected stories in the genre.

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