Catharine Selden (dates not known) was an Irish writer of

Gothic novels Gothic fiction, sometimes referred to as Gothic horror (primarily in the 20th century), is a literary aesthetic of fear and haunting. The name of the genre is derived from the Renaissance era use of the word "gothic", as a pejorative to mean me ...

in the early 19th century. Little known today, she was "prolific" and her novels "best-selling" for her publisher,

Minerva Press Minerva Press was a publishing house, notable for creating a lucrative market in sentimental and Gothic fiction, active in the late 18th and early 19th centuries (1790–1820). It was established by William Lane (c. 1745–1814) at No 33 Lead ...

. She published seven novels. The first, ''The English Nun'' (1797), was written in imitation of Diderot's '' La Religieuse'' (1792).

Bibliography

* ''The English Nun: a Novel'' (London, 1797) *''The Count de Santerre'' (1797) *''Lindor; or Early Engagements'' (1798) *''Serena'' (1800) *''The Sailors'' (1800) * ''German Letters'' (Translator, Cork, 1804) *''Villa Nova: or, The Ruined Castle'' (1805) *''Villasantelle, or The Curious Impertinent'' (1817)Full text available from

Chawton House Chawton House is a listed building, Grade II* listed manor house in Hampshire on the South side of Chawton village, and the present building was started in 1580. In the late 18th century it was the home of Edward Austen Knight, a wealthy bro ...

as
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References

Writers of Gothic fiction Year of birth unknown Year of death unknown 19th-century British women writers 19th-century British novelists British women novelists {{UK-novelist-stub