Gothic Historical Fiction: Essie Fox and Kate Griffin in conversation

Join award-winning novelists Essie Fox and Kate Griffin to find out more about the process of writing historical fiction and how to create a Gothic atmosphere. They will be talking about their recent novels, Essie Fox’s Dangerous (2024) and Kate Griffin’s Fyneshade (2023). Hosted by Sarah Dutson, from the Manchester Centre for Gothic Studies. https://manchestergothic.mmu.ac.uk/

DANGEROUS (2024) BY ESSIE FOX

Living in exile in Venice, the disgraced Lord Byron revels in the freedoms of the city. But when associated with the deaths of local women found with wounds to their throats, and when a novel called The Vampyre is published in his name, rumours begin to spread that he is the murderer. Haunted by whispering campaigns and the scandals of his past, Byron is forced to play detective and solve the puzzle of the crimes.

Rich in gothic atmosphere and drawing on real events and characters from Byron's life, Dangerous is a riveting historical thriller ~ as decadent and seductive as the poet himself.

Essie Fox was born and raised in Herefordshire. After studying English Literature at Sheffield University, she moved to London and began a career in publishing – from there becoming self-employed in commercial art design. Always an avid reader, she now writes historical novels. Her debut, The Somnambulist, was shortlisted for the National Book Awards, and featured on Channel 4’s TV Book Club. The Last Days of Leda Grey, set in the earliest years of the silent film industry, was selected as The Times Historical Book of the Month. The Fascination, a Sunday Times Top Ten Bestselling book, features Victorian fairgrounds, the glamour of the London theatres, and an Oxford Street museum of morbid curiosities. And now, Dangerous, a Regency crime thriller, relates adventures of Lord Byron during the time he spent in Venice and has again been selected as a Times Book of the Month.

Essie has appeared at many literary events, has lectured at the V&A, and National Gallery in London. Recently she has become the host of a new podcast, Talking The Gothic.

Fyneshade (2023) by Kate Griffin

Many would find much to fear in Fyneshade's dark corridors. But not I. For it has more to fear from me...

On the day of her beloved grandmother's funeral Marta discovers that she is to become governess to the daughter of Sir William Pritchard.

Separated from her lover and discarded by her family, Marta has no choice but to journey to Pritchard's ancient and crumbling house, Fyneshade, in the wilds of Derbyshire.

All is not well at Fyneshade. Marta's pupil, little Grace, can be taught nothing and Marta takes no comfort from the silent servants who will not meet her eye. More intriguing is that Sir William is mysteriously absent, and his son and heir Vaughan is forbidden to enter the house.

Marta finds herself drawn to Vaughan despite warnings from the housekeeper that he is a danger to all around him. But Marta is no innocent to be preyed upon. Guided by the dark gift taught to her by her grandmother, she has made her own plans. And it will take more than a family riven by murderous secrets to stop her...

Fyneshade, Kate Griffin’s homage to a genre she playfully dubs ‘Governess Gothic, was published by Viper and was a Sunday Times Historical Fiction Book of 2023.

With co-writer Marcia Hutchinson, she wrote The Blackbirds of St Giles, published by Simon and Schuster in January 2025. Taking a fresh look at the black community who were part of Georgian London’s most notorious slum – The St Giles Rookery – the novel was The Sunday Times historical fiction pick as February’s ‘book of the month’.

Kate was the winner of the 2012 Faber /Stylist Magazine competition to find a distinctive new voice and character in crime. The resulting gothic-influenced ‘Kitty Peck’ series navigates the back streets of Victorian Limehouse, the aristocratic corridors of power and the transgressive world of music hall - all viewed through the eyes of a young whip-smart aerial artiste (Kitty Peck) and her ‘family’ of outsiders. The first in the series was shortlisted for a CWA Historical Dagger.

Kate has worked in journalism and communications. Until 2019 she was Head of Press for Britain’s oldest conservation charity SPAB (Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings). Her love of old buildings and the stories they tell continues to inspire her writing. She lives in a Victorian house in St Albans with her husband, Stephen.

Nb. She’s very good on a quiz team. (She survived University Challenge, The Professionals.)

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