As the snow begins to fall and carols fill the air, it’s easy to associate Christmas with warmth, joy, and family gatherings. But delve into the shadowy corners of Victorian literature, and you’ll find a very different Yuletide – one steeped in dread, isolation, and the uncanny.
The 19th century, an era of rapid industrialization, social upheaval, and burgeoning scientific inquiry, also witnessed a fascinating cultural paradox. While the burgeoning middle class embraced Christmas as a symbol of domesticity and cheerful celebration, a parallel literary tradition reveled in the darker aspects of the season.
The Roots of Victorian Unease
Several factors contributed to this Gothic fascination with a