Preface: Kinder-goth and the seedtime of the soul -- Märchen, adult fairytales, and cyclic journeys: A Christmas Carol in context -- Enantiodromia or transcendence: The walker's dark journey -- How grim is the reaper? -- Fates worse than death: The amazing Mr. Blunden and A wind in the door -- Rendering unto Caesar: The sword of the spirits trilogy -- Coping with the unthinkable: The political gothic imagination of Madeleine L'Engle -- Another side of The inklings: Smith of Wootton Major -- Magic is might: A political gothic parable -- Psychological gothic: Reflections on Rowling's back stories -- Conclusion: Twilight of the archetypal child