Charles Brockden Brown Boeken

The collection features two significant works by Charles Brockden Brown, an early American novelist known for his contributions to the Gothic romance genre. "Wieland" is an epistolary novel that explores the psychological turmoil of siblings Clara and Theodore Wieland amidst tragic events, showcasing Brown's blend of Romantic imagination and Enlightenment ideals. Complementing this is "Memoirs of Carwin the Biloquist," which provides background on the character Carwin, enhancing the understanding of his role in "Wieland." This edition is presented on premium acid-free paper.

The story revolves around Stephen Calvert's tumultuous journey toward marriage, where he faces perplexing challenges while courting two women. As he grapples with his confusing situation and considers drastic measures, he uncovers a deeper mystery that underlies his romantic troubles, prompting a quest for understanding and resolution.

In the bleak night, beneath the stretching limbs of the shadowy elm, a shot rings out -- and the hurrying Edgar Huntly arrives to find his friend Waldegrave insensate and bleeding on the ground. Who could have murdered such an honest, blameless man? Walking to his uncle's house on another gloomy night, Huntly succumbs to the impulse to revisit that fatal elm -- only to have the mystery around the murder deepen: for Huntly spies beneath the shadowed tree a robust, half-clad man digging in the earth -- and then falling to his knees and weeping! Charles Brockden Brown (1771-1810), author of "Wieland," writes of madness, sleepwalking, and the Indian threat in the brilliant novel "Edgar Huntly."

The narrative intertwines surreal and dark elements, featuring an elderly mystic's mysterious death by spontaneous combustion in a hidden temple. A young man grapples with disturbing voices compelling him to harm his family, while a sleepwalker embarks on a chaotic journey through the wilderness, facing violent encounters. This exploration of madness, mysticism, and the struggle between inner demons creates a haunting atmosphere that delves into the complexities of the human psyche.

Set against a backdrop of supernatural events, this 1798 tale explores themes of religious mania and psychological terror. The narrative features spontaneous combustion, disembodied voices, and a gruesome murder inspired by true events. Charles Brockden Brown weaves a complex story that delves into the darker aspects of human nature, captivating readers with its chilling atmosphere and profound implications. The book has been praised for its powerful impact and remains a significant work in American literature.

A major influence on Poe and Hawthorne, this spellbinding tale of seduction, insanity, and murder represents one of America's earliest novels. Based on the true story of a religious fanatic who slaughtered his family, this proto-Gothic novel unfolds in rural Pennsylvania of the 1760s and offers compelling reflections of the era's social and political anxieties.

One of the first American Gothic novels, Edgar Huntly (1787) mirrors the social and political temperaments of the postrevolutionary United States. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.