The Silversnake Project

Ecogothic literature gives voice to fears and feelings about environment and climate change, showing individuals and societies coming apart at the seams. The toolkit at the end proposes walking, hypnagogic, and 'new ritual practices' to invite reflection and reconnection.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 386 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Triarchy Press

As our relationship with the world around us becomes increasingly fragile and unpredictable, more paraded and more desperate, the role of eco-gothic literature becomes more significant in giving voice to some of the growing fears and deepest feelings we have about our environment and climate change. The three eco-gothic novellas in this collection showcase individuals and societies coming apart at the seams in the face of an eerieness that is often hiding from us in plain sight. The toolkit at the end proposes walking, hypnotic, and 'new ritual practices' that draw on the novellas and invite reflection and reconnection. The whole book was written and devised as part of Phil Smith's groundbreaking research as a member of the School of Society & Culture at the University of Plymouth (UK).

Eco-gothic literature emerges as a response to the growing concerns about the fragility and unpredictability of our relationship with the world around us. In this literary genre, authors explore the intersection of environmental degradation, climate change, and the human psyche, delving into the depths of fear, despair, and longing that accompany these crises.

The three eco-gothic novellas included in this collection offer a poignant portrayal of individuals and societies grappling with the eerie consequences of environmental and climate change. Through their narratives, authors shed light on the ways in which these issues disrupt the fabric of human existence, tearing apart relationships, distorting identities, and eroding the sense of belonging.

The eco-gothic toolkit at the end of the book provides readers with practical strategies for engaging with the themes explored in the novellas. It suggests walking as a means of connecting with nature and finding solace in the natural world, while hypnotic practices offer a tool for introspection and self-reflection. Additionally, the 'new ritual practices' proposed draw on the novellas and invite individuals to engage in meaningful acts of reconnection with the environment and each other.

Written and devised as part of Phil Smith's groundbreaking research as a member of the School of Society & Culture at the University of Plymouth (UK), this book offers a unique perspective on the intersection of eco-gothic literature, environmentalism, and cultural studies. It provides a valuable contribution to the growing body of work that explores the complex relationship between humans and the natural world in the face of contemporary crises.

Weight: 584g
Dimension: 157 x 217 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781913743833