To Be Told at Dusk: Victorian "Winter's Tales" of Specters and Shades FREE TALK
Have you ever wondered at the line "there'll be scary ghost stories" in the Christmas carol "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"? This free talk, from Drs. Sara Cleto and Brittany Warman, will discuss the Victorian tradition of ghost stories at Christmastime. We'll take a look at the history dating back to at least 1836, the folklore rooted in Yule celebrations that helped link scary stories with the winter season, and the significant connection to Gothic literature that these stories have. We'll also take a deep dive into Dickens and other writers who really brought this practice to life. Lastly, we'll close out the evening with a reading of at least one eerie and wonderful Victorian ghost story!
