Author Archives: firekrank

Top 10 Shapeshifters in Fiction (an alternative)

Over the weekend The Guardian published an article about the top ten shapeshifters in fiction. It was an enjoyable read and proof that shapeshifters continue to be relevant. However the choice of texts was limited (three examples from Harry Potter?). And, whilst … Continue reading

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Vampire Politics meets the EU

This article ‘Transylvania joining EU could see one million vampires in UK by 2020’ was published on the satirical news site NewsThump. Adding a Gothic twist to Brexit, it exaggerates fears regarding national identity by suggesting that by remaining in … Continue reading

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On Twilight, dangerous love, romantic poetry and voyeurism

The following blog post, ‘Love is Dangerous’, appeared on my Facebook news feed. I read it and the post which it is reacting to (which you can read here) with interest. Whilst the original post on ‘What Happens Next: A … Continue reading

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The Gothic influence of Snow White’s Evil Queen

The website Tor.com has published a very interesting article, ‘Ayesha, White as Snow: H. Rider Haggard’s She and Walt Disney’s Evil Queen’. As the title suggests, the author of the piece, Gilbert Colon, looks at the similarities between Haggard’s eponymous protagonist and … Continue reading

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Open Graves, Open Minds reporting on the Werewolf of Hull

Yesterday I was interviewed for the Mark Forrest Show which was doing a segment on the Werewolf of Hull or, as it is now commonly referred to, ‘Old Stinker’. You can listen to my five minutes of fame here. (I’m … Continue reading

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Review of ‘Reimagining the Gothic’, 6th-7th May 2016

‘Reimagining the Gothic 2016: Monsters and Monstrosities’ took place on 6th-7th May. It consisted of two days: the first being a showcase which featured both postgraduates and undergraduates working in the field of the Gothic presenting their work to the … Continue reading

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Gothic Spaces and Standing Stones

I have just stumbled across this wonderful blog, Celluloid Wicker Man, which is run by writer and filmmaker Adam Scovell. He is particularly interested on Folk Horror which can be seen in this incredibly interesting series of posts, ‘Uncanny Portals … Continue reading

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Werewolf Sightings in Yorkshire

The Daily Express (amongst other tabloid papers) has reported on a series of presumed werewolf sightings in the Yorkshire Wolds. Now, sadly I am not donning a leather outfit and heading north with a holster and silver bullets, however I … Continue reading

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Review of ‘Reflected Shadows: Folklore and the Gothic’, 15th-17th April 2016

On 15th-17th April, I attended ‘Reflected Shadows: Folklore and the Gothic’ at Kingston University. This conference, dedicated as the name suggests to folklore and the Gothic, was jointly organised by The Folklore Society and Kingston University. The conference opened with … Continue reading

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Supernatural Shakespeare

Shakespeare’s 400th Deathday* is fast approaching and there are plenty of activities taking place to commemorate this. One article which has caught my eye is called ‘”Supp’d full with horrors”: 400 years of Shakespeare’s supernaturalism’. It’s an excellent overview of … Continue reading

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