Join Sunday Times Best-selling author Essie Fox as she delves into gothic realms - in books and music, art, and film.
essiefox.substack.com (https://essiefox.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)
Essie Fox in discussion with L. C. Winter, author of the historical gothic novel, Spider Spider.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit essiefox.substack.com (https://essiefox.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
28 Jul 2026
Old Dark Films. Stephen Griffin ~ Episode 11
Stephen Griffin chooses four films to discuss: The Old Dark House, The Tomb of Ligeia, The Brides of Dracula, and Carry on Screaming ~ with plenty of diversions into other fascinating aspects regarding the evolution of horror and comedy horror. You’re going to love this episode as Stephen is such a fount of knowledge. Can’t wait to get him back on the podcast in the future.
A few errors on my behalf: Boris Karloff played Frankenstein’s monster before The Old Dark House was made, and not after.
Also, The Oakley Court hotel is now open to the public and it’s possible to visit for afternoon tea, lunch, or dinner. Highly recommended for an ultimate gothic experience, and all on the banks of the glorious River Thames.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit essiefox.substack.com (https://essiefox.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
17 Jun 2026
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Essie discusses Great Expectations and is joined by the author, Barbara Havelocke, who has written two gothic novels based on the character of Estella ~ Estella’s Revenge, and Estella’s Fury.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit essiefox.substack.com (https://essiefox.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
29 Apr 2026
Emily Brontë Reappraised ~ Episode 9
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit essiefox.substack.com (https://essiefox.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
10 Feb 2026
Ghostly Hands
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit essiefox.substack.com (https://essiefox.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
21 Dec 2025
A Ghost Story for Christmas ~ Episode 7
For this December episode of Talking the Gothic, Essie Fox reads The Portent of the Shadow, a chilling and ambiguous ghost story created by E. Nesbit.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit essiefox.substack.com (https://essiefox.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
3 Dec 2025
Dark Christmas Reads ~ Episode 6
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit essiefox.substack.com (https://essiefox.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
27 Oct 2025
Folklore Horror ~ Episode 5
TALKING THE GOTHIC ~ FOLKLORE HORROR. EPISODE 5.
Essie Fox discusses Folklore Horror, and is joined by the writer Katherine Clements whose novella, Turbine 34, is published on November 6th.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit essiefox.substack.com (https://essiefox.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
19 Sept 2025
Dark Humour in The Gothic ~ Episode 4
Join me as I talk to Paul Magrs about his wonderfully humorous series of novels, The Brenda and Effie Mysteries. (https://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Brenda-and-Effie-Mysteries-7-book-series/dp/B0749QB23M)
Paul also has his own youtube channel which you can find here (https://www.youtube.com/@paulmagrs-g8n).
If you would like to meet Paul in person, and find out more about his literary connection to Whitby and the world of Brenda and Effie, he’ll be appearing at the Whitby Book Festival (https://whitbylitfest.org.uk/event/life-on-magrs-paul-magrs/)this coming November.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit essiefox.substack.com (https://essiefox.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
30 Jul 2025
Nightmare Animals and Wolves ~ Episode 3
I’m delighted to be posting Episode 3 of Talking the Gothic. Discussing Animals, & Wolves, I’m joined by Michael Stewart as we probe into the themes of his novel, Black Wood Women.
As an award winning author Michael has written four novels, two short story collections, and many plays for radio. He is now a director of the Bronte Writing Centre, based at the parsonage in Haworth, where other writers can join in the courses he creates and be immersed in the world where the Brontes lived and worked.
Today’s Talking the Gothic has been recorded on Emily Bronte’s 207th birthday - so listen out for a tribute to her writing from Michael at the end of the show.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit essiefox.substack.com (https://essiefox.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
10 Jul 2025
Castles & Country Houses ~ Episode 2
Join me in episode 2 of Talking the Gothic as I explore the general background to architecture in gothic literature, before focussing more deeply on the house that is described in the historical novel Fyneshade by the author Kate Griffin.
With links to Jane Eyre and The Turn of the Screw this is a fascinating story with many knowing nods to the genre of the gothic.
What is your favourite fictional (or real life) gothic building?
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit essiefox.substack.com (https://essiefox.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
21 Jun 2025
The Castle of Otranto ~ Episode 1
Essie Fox takes a deep dive into what’s generally acclaimed as the first English Gothic novel - Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto. Essie is also joined by Dr Tim Rideout as they discuss the novel’s themes and their obsession with The Gothic.
Tim Rideout is the author of Gothic Precarity (https://www.uwp.co.uk/book/gothic-precarity-rideout/), published by the University of Wales Press in September 2025.
Essie Fox is the Sunday Times Best Selling author of six historical gothic novels. To learn more about her books visit her author website (http://essiefox.com)
. (http://essiefox.com)
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit essiefox.substack.com (https://essiefox.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
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