• Ghost Writers: Radcliffiana and the Russian Gothic Wave

    Author(s):
    Katherine Bowers (see profile)
    Date:
    2021
    Subject(s):
    Gothic literature, Russian literature, Fiction, Nineteenth century, Books, History
    Item Type:
    Article
    Tag(s):
    Ann Radcliffe, Translation market, Russian cultural history, Translation studies, Nineteenth-century fiction, Reception studies, Book history
    Permanent URL:
    https://doi.org/10.17613/t48e-m015
    Abstract:
    Ann Radcliffe’s novels were extremely popular in early nineteenth-century Russia. Publication of her work in Russian translation propelled the so-called gothic wave of 1800-10. Yet, many of the works Radcliffe was known for in Russia were not written by her; rather, they were works by others that were attributed to Radcliffe. This article traces the publication and translation histories of Radcliffiana on the Russian book market of 1800-20. Building on JoEllen DeLucia’s concept of a “corporate Radcliffe” in the anglophone world, this article proposes a Russian corporate Radcliffe. Identifying, classifying, and analysing the provenance of Russian corporate Radcliffe works reveals insight into the transnational circulation of texts and the role of copyright law within it, the nature of the early nineteenth-century Russian book market, the rise of popular reading and advertising in Russia, and the gendered nature of critical discourse at this time. The Russian corporate Radcliffe assures the legacy and influence of Radcliffe in later Russian literature and culture, although a Radcliffe that represents much more than just the English author. Exploring the Russian corporate Radcliffe expands our understanding of early nineteenth-century Russian literary history through specific case studies that demonstrate the significant role played by both women writers and translation, an aspect of this history that is often overlooked.
    Notes:
    This article was originally published in Victorian Popular Fictions 3.2 (2021) and can be found online here: https://victorianpopularfiction.org/victorian-popular-fictions-3-2-9-bowers/.
    Metadata:
    Published as:
    Journal article    
    Status:
    Published
    Last Updated:
    1 year ago
    License:
    Attribution

    Downloads

    Item Name: pdf 9-bowers-radcliffiana-vpfj-vol-3-issue-2-1.pdf
      Download View in browser
    Activity: Downloads: 14