Anthony Frederick Holstein

Anthony Frederick Holstein. The Assassin of St. Glenroy; or, The Axis of Life. A Novel

London:  Minerva Press for A. K. Newman and Co., 1810.

 

Biographical Sketch of Anthony Frederick Holstein

Anthony Frederick Holstein is apparently a pseudonym; the author's real name and gender are unknown (Mulvey-Roberts). Minerva Press published twelve novels between 1808 and 1815 written by Anthony Frederick Holstein, all of which all fell into the Gothic genre (Mulvey-Roberts). 1810 was the most productive year for Holstein. Three novels were published under the pseudonym Anthony Frederick Holstein in 1810 and about two novels a year were published after 1810 until 1815. Holstein still maintains a reputation as a Gothic novelist.

Although Holstein's novels were Gothic novels, The Assassin of St. Glenroy (1810) is often regarded as the least Gothic of Holstein's novels (Mulvey-Roberts). However, the novel still has quite few elements of the Gothic genre. Dark settings, mysterious characters and a horror scene are all part of The Assassin of St. Glenroy. Much of the elements and issues in the novel are, however, thoroughly Romantic in nature. The main characters deal with marriage and familial obligations, while the narrator addresses and portrays the Scottish nobility in a harsh manner. The mysterious character that provides so much of the novel's Gothic feel is an orphan, which is itself a common element in Romantic novels. Without knowing the real identity of the author it is difficult to say that the novel was or was intended to be Gothic. Since Holstein's other novels are Gothic, however, it makes sense that The Assassin of St. Glenroy would also be considered Gothic despite its overwhelmingly Romantic feel.

Sources:

Mulvey-Roberts, Marie. "Gothic Fiction: Biographies of Gothic Novelists." Adam Matthew Publications. 2005.
Adam Matthew Publications Ltd. 16 April 2006:   <http://www.adam-matthew-publications.co.uk/digital_guides/gothic_fiction/Biographies.aspx>.

-- Prepared by Kristina Neal, University of Nebraska, April 2006.
© Kristina Neal, 2006.