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18th Century, classic horror, English literature, German Romanticism, Gothic Literature, Gothic Romance, Historical, nineteenth century, Romantic Age, Romantic-era, Romanticism
Yesterday was the annual Pride parade in NYC. This Thursday (June 28th) is the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots that ignited the modern movement for LGBT rights. It seems an appropriate time to acknowledge some of the historical contributions of LGBT people to the Gothic genre.
- Horace Walpole, who wrote the first Gothic novel, “The Castle of Otranto”, was almost certainly gay.
- William Beckford, author of “Vathek”, was gay.
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, scientist, statesman, driving force of German Romanticism, and author of the most famous rendition of “Faust”, was probably bisexual.
- Mary Wollstonecraft, mother of Mary Shelley, author of the feminist Gothic novel “Maria: or, The Wrongs of Woman”, and founding voice of English feminism, was bisexual.
- Mary Shelley was deeply in love with Jane Williams, the lover (and de facto wife) of Percy’s friend Edward Williams (who died in the same boating accident as Percy). Mary and Jane shared a complex network of mutual friends and lovers.
- Lord Byron, satirized in Dr. Polidori’s “The Vampyre”, and therefore the model for all modern aristocratic bloodsuckers, was famously bisexual.
- Lady Caroline Lamb, who established the literary archetype of the “Byronic Hero” when she satirized her former lover Lord Byron in her Gothic novel “Glenarvon”, was bisexual.
- Oscar Wilde, author of “The Picture of Dorian Gray”, was of course gay, and suffered imprisonment under the sodomy laws of Victorian England.
- Vernon Lee (Violet Paget), famous for her ghost-filled tales of Italy, was lesbian.
- Daphne du Maurier, author of “Rebecca”, and of the stories upon which the movies “Don’t Look Now” and “The Birds” are based, was bisexual.
Of course the list is far from complete. Feel free to use the comments section to add names I’ve overlooked. Also I haven’t included any living authors, as they can speak for themselves.
The Engine of Oracles 
I believe Matthew “Monk” Lewis was gay. (At least according to Montague Summers. Although I wouldn’t call Summers the most reliable source, he was a religious reactionary [i]and[/i] admired Lewis, so it would be odd for him to make that up if it wasn’t true.)
Does the Marquis de Sade count as a Gothic author?
As for Beckford, sadly, he might not be a name you’d like to put prominently on a Pride flag. While he was apparently bisexual, he also sexually victimized at least one young boy (the 5-year-old son of his mistress Louisa Pitt, who apparently was enthusiastically in on it).
It isn’t long after one begins studying Gothic literature that you encounter important but problematic texts, often produced by great writers who also did horrible things. Beckford definitely belongs (along with Byron) in the category of authors who should be read and appreciated, but never idolized. Beckford happened to be gay, and he also happened to be a horrible person. I believe it’s important to understand and remember his sexuality when you read “Vathek”, for example. But one doesn’t need to condone his vile behavior to recognize the contribution he made to Gothic literature (and through it to modern horror and fantasy).
Sade hated being called a Gothic writer. I am among the people who classify “Justine” as a Gothic novel, however. It’s got a long-suffering orphan heroine, brutal bandits, mad doctors, depraved monks, and dark dungeons. It’s influence on later Gothics is also undeniable. Of course, Sade was quick to point out that he was satirizing all those literary conventions for a serious philosophical point. Nonetheless, its undeniable that “Justine” was an important influence on later Gothics. Obviously, we have the same problem with Sade as with Beckford.
As for Lewis, he wasn’t included because I didn’t personally think there was enough evidence that he was LGBT. It’s still possible that he was, of course.
Also: thanks for a great game! I’ve found Ghastly Affair hugely inspirational. 🙂
Thank you!
Robert Louis Stevenson; the writer of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was bisexual! And there are many homosexual themes in the Jekyll and Hyde story!