Charlotte Smith’s Emmeline, or, The Orphan of the Castle

In an exploration of the societal limitations for women regarding marriage and property in the eighteenth century, this gothic masterpiece is an early work of feminist fiction. Emmeline is orphaned and raised in a grand castle in the English countryside by her uncle, Lord Montreville. The legitimacy of Emmeline’s birth cannot be proven and so she has no property to inherit and no social standing with which to find herself a husband and security. As she navigates the treacherous landscape of eighteenth-century England, she must unravel the secrets of her birth in a time of societal upheaval.This volume is part of the Mothers of the Macabre series, celebrating the gothic horror masterpieces of pioneering women writers who played a pivotal role in shaping and advancing the genre. First published in 1788, this classic work of gothic fiction was Charlotte Smith’s first novel. Against the backdrop of grand castles and lush landscapes, the volume delves into the complexities of class, gender, and the plight of the marginalised.