Haunted Empire: Gothic and the Russian Imperial Uncanny

Haunted Empire explores how Gothic elements in Russian literature expressed deep-set anxieties about the Russian imperial and national identity. Valeria Sobol argues that the persistent presence of Gothic tropes in the literature of the Russian Empire is a key literary form that enacts deep historical and cultural tensions arising from Russia's idiosyncratic imperial experience.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 15 October 2023
Publisher: Cornell University Press

Haunted Empire delves into the profound and unsettling implications of Gothic elements in Russian literature, revealing a rich tapestry of anxieties and fears that deeply intertwined with the Russian imperial and national identity. In her groundbreaking work, Valeria Sobol argues that the persistent presence of Gothic tropes in the literature of the Russian Empire serves as a vital literary form that encapsulates the intricate historical and cultural tensions that emerged from Russia's unique imperial experience. Through a meticulous exploration of canonical and lesser-studied literary texts, Sobol uncovers the origins of Gothic horror, tracing it back to the unsettling ambiguity of Russia's past and present. By focusing on two key spaces of the imperial uncanny—the Baltic north/Finland and the Ukrainian south—Haunted Empire reconstructs a powerful discursive tradition that unveils the enduring mechanisms of the Russian imperial imagination. This insightful book offers a profound reflection on the complexities of Russian history, culture, and identity, shedding light on the enduring legacies of the Russian Empire and its impact on the world.

Haunted Empire delves into the profound and unsettling implications of Gothic elements in Russian literature, revealing a rich tapestry of anxieties and fears that deeply intertwined with the Russian imperial and national identity.

Weight: 346g
Dimension: 153 x 229 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501770104