An innovative collection of essays examining the sometimes paradoxical alignment of Realism and Naturalism with the Gothic in American literature to highlight their shared qualities Following the golden age of British Gothic in the late eighteenth century, the American Gothic’s pinnacle is often recognized as having taken place during the decades of American Romanticism. However, Haunting Realities explores the period of American Realism—the end of the nineteenth century—to discover evidence of fertile ground for another age of Gothic proliferation. At first glance, “Naturalist Gothic” seems to be a contradiction in terms. While the Gothic is known for its sensational effects, with its emphasis on horror and the supernatural, the doctrines of late nineteenth-century Naturalism attempted to move away from the aesthetics of sentimentality and stressed sobering, mechanistic views of reality steeped in scientific thought and the determinism of market values and biology. Nonetheless, what binds Gothicism and Naturalism together is a vision of shared pessimism and the perception of a fearful, lingering presence that ominously haunts an impending modernity. Indeed, it seems that in many Naturalist works reality is so horrific that it can only be depicted through Gothic tropes that prefigure the alienation and despair of modernism. In recent years, research on the Gothic has flourished, yet there has been no extensive study of the links between the Gothic and Naturalism, particularly those which stem from the early American Realist tradition. Haunting Realities is a timely volume that addresses this gap and is an important addition to scholarly work on both the Gothic and Naturalism in the American literary tradition.

A gripping tale of love and loss, intrigue and betrayal, and of the desire to possess the land that sets the Warren family at each other's throats. Kath loses her husband to war and seeks love in the arms of another man, only for her dreams to be swept away by tragedy. Hedley, whose passion for his land helps him survive the hell of World War II, but only after betraying the man who saved his life. Now, fifty years later, Hedley is dying. His grandchildren — Rebecca, Michael, Craig and Danielle — confront Hedley and each other, as they wait to see who will inherit. And then the fire strikes.

In today's world of texting and social networking, the legendary art of partying has been left to amateurs, wannabes, and party crashers. The true Party Animal stands out from the crowd, dances like a fool, knows the best pranks, gets the girl, and can smooth talk his way out of any sticky situation. The Book of the Party Animal reveals the crucial elements of being a Party Animal, detailing some of history's most famous partiers, compiling a list of the best Party Animal drinks (complete with recipes), and explaining how to rule the dance floor with certified Party Animal moves. The perfect gift for all sorts of occasions, this entertaining guide is sure to improve parties everywhere—one Party Animal at a time.