71 pages • 2 hours read
Charles Brockden BrownWieland
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1798A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
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
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 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.