Ghost Stories & Gothic Literature

A Seed Talks evening with Dr Emily Vincent exploring the history of the ghost story in literature, from horror and madness to humour, followed by a Q&A.

Dr Emily Vincent traces the origins of the literary ghost story, from the madness suggested by Shakespeare's ghouls to the comedy of Dickens's phantoms, Robert Browning's mockery of séance mediums and Oscar Wilde's amusing spirits. The talk revisits classics such as A Christmas Carol alongside lesser-known spectral tales, arguing that the ghost story's history is more human than readers might expect. Doors open at 7pm with the talk starting at 7:30pm, followed by a Q&A. The event is for ages 16+ and lasts two and a half hours.