THE BANDITTI OF THE FOREST;
OR,
THE MYSTERIOUS DAGGER.
Most readers of
Valancourt's Gothic Classics series
know that in the late 1700s and early 1800s, a great many Gothic
novels were published, many of which are seeing the light of day for
the first time in two centuries in our new editions. However, what
many may not know is that a significant quantity of Gothic fiction
also appeared not in books, but in magazines. Monthly periodicals
like The Lady's Magazine, The Ladies' Monthly Museum, La
Belle Assemblée, and
others mixed Gothic stories among their other articles and content.
Although sometimes these were merely short tales or “fragments”
that ran for four or five pages in a single issue, the magazines
often serialized full-length novels as well. Some of the most
popular, like George Moore's Grasville
Abbey,
for example, were later collected in book form by publishers.
However, the majority of this Gothic magazine fiction has been lost
until now and never reprinted.
Valancourt
is working on a multi-volume set collecting these rare Gothic
treasures to be released in late 2013. However, in the meantime, we
wanted to share this gem, The
Banditti of the Forest; or, The Mysterious Dagger,
by an author who signed himself or herself “C.” and which
appeared in eight monthly installments in The
Ladies' Monthly Museum from July 1811 through February 1812. Beginning in September 2012, we will post one chapter within the first week of each month so that readers can enjoy this Gothic romance
as it was originally published – totally free of charge.
CHAPTER 1 (July 1811) Download
CHAPTER 2 (August 1811) Download
CHAPTER 3 (September 1811) Download
CHAPTER 4 (October 1811) Download
CHAPTER 5 (November 1811) Download
CHAPTER 6 (December 1811) Download
CHAPTER 7 (January 1812) Download
CHAPTER 8 (February 1812) Download