Graphic Classics, Volume 14: Gothic Classics by Ann Radcliffe, Edgar Allan Poe, Trina Robbins, Jane Austen, J. Sheridan Le Fanu

From the Publisher

Gothic Classics presents Ann Radcliffe's archetypal gothic novel The Mysteries of Udopho, adapted by Antonella Caputo and Carlo Vergara. Plus: Jane Austen's gothic parody Northanger Abbey" by Trina Robbins and Anne Timmons; and Poe's "The Oval Portrait" by Malaysian illustrator Leong Wan Kok. Also "At the Gate," a ghost story with dogs by Myla Jo Closser, illustrated by Shary Flenniken;, and J. Sheridan Le Fanu's great vampire tale "Carmilla," by Rod Lott and Lisa K. Weber. With a dramatic cover painting from "Carmilla" by Lisa K. Weber.

Publishers Weekly

Mystery, terror, imprisonment, death: the great gothic themes are explored in these five well-chosen, seminal tales. "Carmilla," by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu sets the tone for the collection, with its dreamy, swirling art by Lisa K. Weber and its haunting story of a corrupt, corrupting beauty. Edgar Allan Poe is represented by "The Oval Portrait," in which Poe's customary bewildered narrator comes to realize he's staring at an object of horror-a not unpredictable development given that he was spending the night in a ruined, abandoned castle. Ann Radcliffe's inimitable "Mysteries of Udolpho" is rendered in a faithful, nearly documentary style by Carlo Vergara, while Jane Austen's play upon the gothic, "Northanger Abbey," is charmingly illustrated by Anne Timmons. The collection ends on a sweeter, melancholy note with the little known "At the Gate" by Myla Jo Closser, in which a crowd of dogs waits in a mysterious land of limbo. The Airedale protagonist realizes, along with the reader, that they are anticipating reunions with their human families, who usually take much longer to reach this shadow land than do their shorter-lived pets. (Apr.)

VOYA

The Graphic Classics idea is pure genius: Take a classic story, make it into a graphic novel, and watch teens voluntarily read what they might otherwise dismiss as dull or difficult. Add a layer of gothic drama, and the result is a winner. This series entry contains three abridged novels, two shorter stories, and one poem. Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu is a pleasantly creepy, female-vampire story. The illustrations create clearly recognizable characters, and the adaptation makes for easy reading. The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe is one of the standards against which all other gothic tales are judged. In this reader's opinion, it is a confusing story at its best. The choppy adaptation, characters that appear remarkably alike, and too much information crammed into each frame make it even more difficult to understand. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen is well drawn and adapted but has the least amount of fright factor. The Oval Portrait by Edgar Allan Poe might be the best entry in the collection. The illustrations are cartoonish but that makes the surprisingly spooky ending more dramatic. At the Gate by Myla Jo Closser seems timeless and creates a lasting impression. The sparse illustrations increase the stark feeling of the story. The poem, "I've a Pain in My Head" by Jane Austen, remains a mystery as to why it was included. The original authors, adapting authors, illustrators, and the editor are all given brief, informative biographies at the end of the volume.

Jennifer WatersCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information. - School Library Journal

Gr 10 Up
This blood-suckingly fun collection will appeal to the teenage Goths and Emos of the world. It has sexy vampires, girls locked in towers, caddish men, and decaying bodies being eaten by rats. Ann Radcliffe, Jane Austen, and Edgar Allan Poe are just a few of the authors included, and the adaptations are met with varying success. Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu's "Carmilla" is masterfully retold by Rod Lott and illustrated by Lisa K. Weber in a Tim Burtonesque style, and will be appreciated by The Nightmare before Christmas and Corpse Bride crowd. At 55 pages, Radcliffe's "The Mysteries of Udolpho" is the longest story in the collection, and while Antonella Caputo's retelling is competent (given the novel's original length of more than 600 pages), Carlo Vergara's art is less captivating. Poe's "Oval Portrait" is a short but sweetly creepy tale, but Myla Jo Closser's story of an angst-ridden Airedale awaiting doggy heaven seems completely out of place here due to its simple drawings and odd plot. Austen's clever satire of gothic novels seen in Northanger Abbey does not really come across in the graphic-novel format, but nevertheless is an interesting story. The book doesn't provide enough information for students studying gothic literature, but for fans of the band My Chemical Romance, it's just the thing.

Product Details