71 pages 2 hours read

Charles Brockden Brown

Wieland

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1798

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Wieland by Charles Brockden Brown is a Gothic horror novel written in an epistolary format, in which Clara Wieland recounts the eerie events leading up to the deaths of her brother Theodore, his wife Catherine, and their children after experiencing disembodied voices and mysterious apparitions on their estate. The book explores themes of mental illness, delusion, and supernatural phenomena.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Charles Brockden Brown’s Wieland is praised for its pioneering role in American Gothic literature, with a gripping and eerie narrative that delves into psychological horror. However, some critics note its convoluted plot and archaic language can be challenging for modern readers. Overall, it's a seminal work marked by vivid suspense and moral complexity.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Wieland?

Fans of gothic novels and psychological horror who appreciate classic literature with intricate plots will enjoy Charles Brockden Brown's Wieland. Readers who admire the suspenseful nature of works like Mary Shelley's Frankenstein or Edgar Allan Poe's tales will find this novel compelling for its exploration of madness and early American settings.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction

Gothic Literature

Classic Fiction

Themes

Identity: Gender

Identity: Mental Health

Natural World: Appearance & Reality

Period

Romanticism / Romantic Period

Topics

History: U.S.

Education

History: World