Bookclub Read Me: The Beetle - Richard Marsh

29
January
De Groene Waterman 17:30

Read and connect by joining our English Bookclub. Today Lore Goossens talks about Richard Marsh, 'The Beetle'.

Is a beetle the ultimate horror figure, even scarier than a vampire? In 1897, Victorian readers definitely thought so. The Beetle is a bizarre and intriguing novel with a strange premise: the main characters are haunted by a supernatural figure that can transform into a beetle. Richard Marsh’s The Beetle is now a bit of an obscure Gothic novel, but at the time of its release, it even outsold Bram Stoker’s Dracula. As an extremely popular horror novel, it explores the fears and anxieties of the Victorians, surrounding gender, sexuality and imperialism. In this bookclub session, I want to look at the Beetle through a contemporary lens, to see if the novel still holds its own today. Do we still find the beetle scary?

Hi, I’m Lore and I’m intrigued by all books that are popular and pulpy, from romance to fantasy. I strongly believe that we should read more “bad” books, that they broaden our view not only on literature but also on the world itself. I’m a PhD student at the University of Antwerp, where I specialize in young adult literature and fairy-tale retellings. During the day, I read about transforming adolescents and contemporary beasts, so I’m very excited to look at a weird Victorian monster with you!

Practicalities:

  • When: Thursday 29th of January 2026 - 5.30 pm
  • Where: De Groene Waterman - Wolstraat 7, 2000 Antwerp
  • Participation is free. Monetary contributions are appreciated but remain completely voluntary.
  • Please register by sending an e-mail to groenewaterman@groenewaterman.be

The complete list of all Read Me-sessions:



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