Mrs F. C. Patrick was an 18th-century writer of

Gothic fiction 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 ...

with at least three novels to her name. She was one of the earliest female writers of

Life and work

Almost nothing is known about Mrs F. C. Patrick and her name may have been a pen name. She is believed to have been Irish and to have lived in England. She describes herself in one of her books as the wife of an officer. Each of her novels is different from the others. One is, as is typical of many gothic novels, anti Catholic; one satirizes the novels of Mrs Radcliffe and other gothic writers; and the third refers to the national politics of the day, set in domestic scale plots. She is discussed as one of the Irish Gothic authors by various critics of the genre: "During this period, the key Irish authors of Gothic fiction were mainly women, and include Anne Fuller,

Regina Maria Roche Regina Maria Roche (1764 – 17 March 1845) was an Irish Gothic novelist, best known for ''The Children of the Abbey'' (1796) and ''Clermont (novel), Clermont'' (1798). Encouraged by the success of the pioneering Ann Radcliffe, she became a bests ...

, Anne Burke, Mrs F. C. Patrick,

Anna Millikin Anna Millikin (19 January 1764 – at least 1849) was a teacher and author of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. She was one of the earliest Irish women to write Gothic novels and established the literary periodical the ''Casket or Hesp ...

, Catharine Selden, Marianne Kenley, and Sydney Owenson (later Lady Morgan)."

Criticism

From ''Critical Review /JAS'', 1799, ns vol. 27 (1799): 115.

The Jesuit; or, the History of Anthony Babington, Esq. an historical Novel
Here we have a tale of more than common merit. Of those which, since the Ghost Seer, have hinged upon supernatural illusions, this is perhaps the only one that does not disgust by the impossibility of its incidents. Some passages are deeply pathetic. To the death of Sheffield we object, as an act of unnecessary and improbable cruelty, which indeed could not have been perpetrated.

There is a longer discussion in the ''Monthly Review /JAS'', 1799 vol. 30 (1799): 95-7.

Bibliography

* ''The Irish Heiress: A Novel''. London: William Lane, 1797 * ''More Ghosts!''. London: William Lane, 1798 * ''The Jesuit; or, the History of Anthony Babington, Esq. An Historical Novel''. R. Cruttwell, 1799

References

18th-century Irish women writers 18th-century Irish writers Women romantic fiction writers Irish romantic fiction writers Irish women horror writers Irish horror writers Irish women novelists Irish novelists Writers of Gothic fiction {{Ireland-writer-stub