The literary Gothic embodies an appreciation of the joys of extreme emotion, the thrills of fearfulness and awe inherent in the sublime, and a quest for atmosphere, similar to the Gothic Revivalists' rejection of the clarity and rationalism of the Neoclassical style of the Enlightened Establishment./Horace-Walpole-58f4e94e5f9b582c4df92216.jpg)
Gothic literature often includes dark settings, mystery, fear, and an old house with secrets. Famous Gothic authors include Edgar Allan Poe, who perfected the genre with his dark and eerie stories.
The Gothic style first appeared in the early 12th century in northern France and rapidly spread beyond its origins in architecture to sculpture, textiles and painting, including frescoes, stained glass and illuminated manuscripts.