Our Gothic Literature Tour for school groups or adults explores a range of Gothic literature with links to Melbourne city locations. We visit lots of these interesting locations and engage in discussion about the literary works, the plots, the authors and their intentions.
Gothic fiction often thrive on fear, supernatural threats such as vampires or evil magic, hauntings and clashes between past and present. There may be eerie settings such as old and dark buildings, spooky lanes, traps or ruins. Included could be themes of unsolved murder mysteries, revenge, persecution, imprisonment and psychological or social conflicts. Gothic stories can incorporate horror elements, such as live burials, doubles, family secrets, eerie landscapes, haunting dreams, and apocalyptic events.
The most popular genre of Gothic literature in Melbourne is murder mysteries, both true and fictional. The first great Gothic Australian novel is The Mystery of the Hansom Cab, with settings in the back lanes of Melbourne’s Chinatown. This 1886 novel inspired murder mystery fiction around the world. Sisters in Crime, founded in Melbourne, has 600 members who write crime mysteries.
Another Gothic genre is film screenplays set in Melbourne, such as the futuristic Mad Max, the supernatural Ghost Rider, and the vampire series Queen of the Damned.
There is even Gothic children’s literature such as The Grandest Bookshop in the World, The Arrival and The Rabbit.
Below we list some important Gothic literature with connections to Melbourne.
See also our City of Literature Tour
GOTHIC LITERATURE CONNECTED TO MELBOURNE PLACES
Chloe, Revolution Art and Intrigue in Bohemian Paris by Kristina Kell. Where: Young and Jackson.
The Portrait of Molly Dean 2018 by Katherine Kovacic. Where: Flinders Station.
Vampires of Melbourne. Trilogy (3). 2008 by Narelle Harris. Where: City Library.
Murder in Punch Lane. Gothic Crime in the Laneways of Melbourne by Jane Sullivan. Where: Chinatown.
Ghostriders. Marvel Comics by Stan Lee. Where: Hosier Lane, Princess Bridge.
Mad Max by George Miller and Byron Kennedy 1979. Where: Federation Square.
The Mystery of the Hansom Cab by Fergus Hulme. Where: Scots Church.
Sisters of Crime, peak body of female crime writers. Where: Degraves Street.
Phryne Fisher and Corinne Chapman series by Kerry Greenwood. Where: Centre Lane, Windsor Hotel.
Ned Kelly Gang by Peter Carey. Winner Booker Prize. Where: Forum and Athenaeum Theatres.
Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay 1967, 1975. Where: NGV, Lyceum Club.
Grandest Bookshop on Earth by Amelia Mellor (trilogy). Where: Howey Place.
1001 Arabian Nights. Aladdin. Sinbad. Ali Baba. Scheherzade. Where: Forum Theatre.
Gun Alley: Murder, Lies and Failure of Justice by Kevin Morgan. Where: Gun Alley.
The ANZAC Ode by Horace Bingham 1914. Where: Princes Bridge.
Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice (3rd in trilogy). Where: ACDC Lane.
The Toff (Series sixty novels) by John Creasey. Where: Curtin House.
The Arrival. The Rabbits. The Lost Thing. By Shaun Tan. Graphic novel. Academy Award. Where: SLV, Melb Uni.
Gothic buildings: Stock Exchange/ANZ Bank Museum, Manchester Unity. Melb Magistrates Court. Wesley Church, Lingham Lane, Centre Place, QV Market car park.
House of Sighs by Aaron Dries.
Once Upon A Time In Melbourne by Liam Houlihan. Where:
Anguli Ma by Chi Vu.
Contrition by Deborah Sheldon.
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