The supernatural in Carlos Ruiz Zafons young adult fiction: the new revival of gothic?

Abstract

Even a short glimpse at the history of the world allows for a reflection that some periods of time, rather than others, are marked with a greater commotion and upheaval. The 18th century, especially its last decades, emerged as a time of both intellectual and socio-political turmoil leading to far-reaching changes. It was a time not only of the Industrial Revolution, the movement revolutionising Britain’s industry and stimulating huge social effects. It likewise was the time of the American War of Independence and the French Revolution. Those two political disturbances indicated an enormous potential and yearning for exchanging the old system of principles of social life based upon tyranny for entirely new ideals based upon democracy, fraternity, equality and liberty. The glorious mission of the latter, however, backfired upon its later resorting to terror and even more stigmatising political despotism.