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Dear Prospective Reader,
Grotesque, A Gothic Epic© is a digital work of 'alternate historical fiction'. Its body of literature represents a non-profit global humanitarian project that does not generate a profit for the author. It remains only in electronic form; and book printing services are not available. Donation attempts by satisfied readers are deeply appreciated; however, they cannot be accepted. This site does not generate revenue of any sort - it is a literary humanitarian project in the purest sense of the word. Expenses are covered by private, anonymous sources. Any solicitation attempts requesting donations to fund the GNO site or its webmaster and/or author should be disregarded as fraudulent scams.
Emails/postings to the author or the webmaster are both welcomed and encouraged. Please consider taking a brief moment to share personal correspondence about the website and the novel, including any ideas, improvements and/or literary suggestions, or your general overall shared experience. Possible improvements and updates may be applied regularly, based on your feedback, in a continuing effort to enhance future reader enjoyment. Hearing from, and communicating with readers is always a blessing. When reaching out to us, In your communiqué, please direct attention to either myself (Susan) regarding the website or to G.E. Graven (George), regarding literary comments and suggestions. Thanks much!
Your Diligent Site Admin,
~Susan Kelleher
~About
What is the GNO website? (It is the site that hosts the work: Grotesque, A Gothic Epic.)
What is Grotesque, A Gothic Epic? (It is a Gothic epic trilogy in three complete gothic novels.)
Genre? (This specific fictional work of formal literature can be classified as: "Medieval Mythological NeoGothic Epic Fantasy.")
Based on? (Although perhaps considered fiction, the story is based on existing apocryphal scriptural works like the Book of Enoch, Book of Giants, Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Book of Jubilees, overlaid with actual medieval historical timelines, events, locations, and figures.)
Who is the author? (The author of work is George Edmund Graven. The Webmaster is Susan Kelleher.)
Where did the idea for Graven's 'Grotesque' first originate? (From Mr. Graven's thoughts.) What other works were similar? (As of 1998, this work is the first of its kind in the world, even pre-dating online commercial publishing. AI research has already provided supporting research, which can also be read on the GNO site under the liteary analysis white pages. Although the GNO site is relatively new, Graven's work is significantly dated -- now at over twenty-five years, with initial, official U.S. copyright occurring in Jan. 2000.)
Does it contain any sublime 'horror' or 'terror' that may assail my delicate sensitivities? (Reader Beware. Inclusive title words like: 'Gothic' and 'Grotesque' , alongside a 'resounding dedication to Mr. Edgar Poe', may suggest as much.)
Can I read it offline? (Yes) Can I download it? (Yes, download complete, printable PDF Chapters.)
How should I read it? (Desktop devices are best for online reading. PDF files are best for smart devices.)
How recent is this work? (The site and its work have existed since 1998 at gegraven~dot~com and gothicnovel~dot~org.)
Why does this site and novel exist? (Together, they are a living memorial and digital tribute to the late legendary gothic author, Edgar Allen Poe. As a striking sidenote, without exposure to the inspirational 'dark flame' of Mr. Poe, Mr. Graven's initial creative spark for 'Grotesque' would not have flashed when it did. The two events are inextricably linked by prior cause-and-effect. So in a rather curious form of delivery, through the pen of Mr. Graven, Mr. Poe indirectly provides you with 'Grotesque'' 175 years after his passing.)
Why have not heard of author G.E. Graven before now? (Mr. Graven works under a different trade and does not consider himself an aspiring or dedicated author, but rather, a masterful and accomplished story-teller. Unfortunately, the world of 'story-tellers' is infinitely smaller than the world of 'authors'; and there is a bit of a misconception that a good writer is naturally a good story-teller. Mr. Graven enjoys his creativity a bit differently -- and independently.)
Does this GNO site only contain Graven's work? (Absolutely not. The site contains a wealth of early-period gothic materials available for PDF download. Complete works and information of the most prominent gothic authors are assembled for easy access. And of course, you have access to all of Edgar Allan Poe's works on this GNO site.)
Is Grotesque based on any of Poe's work? (No. Mr. Poe simply inspired Mr. Graven. The work itself is unique to Graven's uncommon and fantastical, Gothic-inspired imaginings.)
How are site revenues generated? (This site and novel is purely a humanitarian literary project. Donations and offers are generous and kind, but are declined. Absolutely no revenue is generated from donations or gifts - expense costs are privately and anonymously funded.)
Is this gothic work public domain? (Not yet. The work still falls under domestic and international copyright protections until 2075, but is always available for personal enjoyment.)
Where else can I find Graven's published works? (Mr. Graven will release work on this GNO site.) Is 'Grotesque', available anywhere else? (No, official releases of materials can be accessed at GN).) Can I use this work on my own website? (No need, since this site is always available to the world. Direct links to this GNO site are suggested. Direct text can certainly be quoted under standard referencing guidelines. Full chapter redistributions on external websites and platforms is a clear violation of copyright protections and is strongly discouraged. It only makes sense, since this GNO site would not be 'an official source' if it can't even keep its newly-created work centralized.)
Can I contact the author George Graven, or webmaster Susan Kelleher directly? (Any time! The GNO site contains a contacts page to address communication requests.)
Are there page-bound books of 'Grotesque' available anywhere for purchase? (Not currently. Limited 'lot runs' of quality illustrated hard-cover trilogy-sets may be printed if general demand suggests coverage of expected upfront pre-printing costs. Should it develop, the site will provide everything necessary to securely purchase even early limited autographed sets with authentic printed and digital book-lot number tamper-proof seals.)
Any catches? (No) Will I be overwhelmed by annoying ads and other revenue/data-streaming distractions? (Nothing will disturb your Gothic adventure.) Is it totally free to read? (Yes) Even, right this very moment? (Absolutely - or download PDF files and pages now and enjoy the experience later. Enjoy)
About the 'Grotesque ' Style in Select Gothic Literature...
The 'Grotesque Structure ' in Gothic Expression...
All incidents and dialogue, and all characters including well-known historical figures, are products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Where real-life historical figures, religious, governmental or national entities appear, the situations, incidents, and dialogues concerning those persons, places, and things are entirely fictional and are not intended to depict actual events, exchanges, or intentions, or to change the entirely fictional nature of the work. Usage of any real-life historical elements is meant purely for literary effect, which the author finds necessary to employ in order to properly convey the alternative historical fiction in part and in whole. In all other respects, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, institutions or locales is entirely coincidental.
Legal Disclaimers ~ Please Read Completely Before Beginning The Novel
A ~ Literary Disclaimer | latest update 12~10~25 |
By reading Grotesque, A Gothic Epic©, you fully understand and agree to these terms and conditions for reading this novel, and that you accept it as being simply a work of fiction, that you are comfortable in your understanding of this fact, and that you have no reservations or objections with reading the material presented to you. Please note that Grotesque, A Gothic Epic© may contain material that some may find objectionable. As such, you understand and agree that, should you find any material disagreeable or offensive, you agree to immediately discontinue reading at that time - taste and tolerance naturally vary with every reader. The work is presented without cost or ill-intention to anyone or any institution, agency, country, lineage, race, religion, sex, creed, identity, or condition of any sort.
Any non-literary materials and methods, including supporting text, graphics, audio, links, embedded apps, scanned images, document file extracts, source code, and digital artwork employed by this website are applied under the internet 'fair use' clause and are not used for the purposes of monetary gain, implied ownership or creation credit, and are strictly used in non-profit, humanitarian regard. Said devices are included only to heighten the reader/user experience. Use of these devices on this website does not constitute intended claim, copyright, or any other legal or economic state. The material on this website is not a reflection of the views of this website, its servers, administrators, web hosting service providers, supporting institutions, and third-party associations. All material on this site is subject to, and protected by the United States Constitution, which does not recognize foreign state censorship laws, 'hate speech' restrictions, treaties, regulations, bylaws, corporate policies, terms and/or agreements, both foreign and domestic, expressly stated or implied, which are respectively null and void, and contrary to the sovereign protections provided under the First Amendment of said U.S. Constitution.
This GNO site, its owners, administrators, service and content providers, and affiliations have not entered into any agreements or understandings, whether explicit or implicit, contractual or otherwise conditional, regarding any duplication and/or redistribution of stored and publicly accessible materials on site. It is understood that all provided literary materials are out of copyright restriction and currently reside in the public domain. This website is non-profit and humanitarian in nature, accepting no compensation for materials delivered and services rendered. All selected works distributed by this website (in part or in whole) are understood to reside completely within the public domain, which includes fully-unrestricted rights to modify, to redistribute, and to make available to all United States citizens, without adherence to ANY conditions (some of which might include: stated or implied license-restrictions, explicit and/or implicit terms and/or agreements of possession or usage, or inclusions of mandated mentions or dedications), as protected under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. GNO, and its owners claim no credit of past efforts from others, if they might exist, and makes no financial profits from such possible past efforts. GNO serves as a benefit to Humanity and especially, to the deceased authors of these works, allowing these authors' creations to flow freely through society, in both continued legacy and lasting memory, without restriction (as believed they would have wished.) GNO makes every effort to remove any recent and minimal contributions from others while preserving the original content of the long-deceased author. This site's redistribution of their now-public domain works is provided freely, in order to further decentralize these publicly-owned materials, circumvent stealth censorship (via technological 'hoarding' using overlaid restrictive-access controls), and prevent individual restrictions (via state and/or institutional censorship, or credit-score-driven platforms disguised as non-profit, grant-supported, or individually-injurous "stake-holder" literary distribution portals.) No contractual, obligatory, or binding agreements, explicit or implicit, exist between this sovereign non-profit humanitarian site: GNO, or its sovereign owners, and any other institution or entity. Any reference to external parties in distributed materials is purely unintentional and does not constitute any binding conditions; and removal of such references can be performed upon written request, through the site's contact page, if a detailed reference is provided. Easily embraced by Humanity and Its many authors since passed on, the overall goal of this humanitarian project is to REMOVE access restrictions from classical, gothic-specific literary works - not to ADD to, or MODIFY said restrictions.
B ~ Website/Digital Disclaimer | latest update 01~14~26 |
Now, with the formal disclaimers out of the way, do entertain yourself with this alternate historical fiction: Grotesque, A Gothic Epic, by G.E. Graven. If you agree to all of the above disclaimers, please begin reading and downloading at this time. Enjoy!
Meet the major and supporting story characters of the novel before beginning your journey, click on drama icon to your right.
To begin your journey immediately, by going to the novel's Prologue, click on the image below.
Browse through excerpts of novel chapters as you might do in a bookstore before determining if you wish to carry the book home, click on the books icon to your right.
For the 'literary professor' types who wish to review a detailed analysis on the novel's gothic protagonist, and how the author incorporates the elements and style of the Gothic, Grotesque, and the Uncanny into setting, plot, symbolism, and characters, within this literary work, click on the quill-and-well icon on the right.
Peruse a collection of Graven's gothic verse before you begin the novel by selecting the verse icon on your right.
Read the novel's preface, which includes a letter by the author that explains the scope and construct of the story. Understanding this key information in advance will keep events in perspective as you continue forward through more involved chapters and scenes.
Grotesque ~ A Gothic Epic© is legally and formally registered with the United States Copyright Office under title ©#TXu~1~008~517. All rights reserved 2000-2026 by G. E. Graven. Website design and domain name owner: Susan Kelleher. Name not for resale or transfer. Strictly a humanitarian collaborative effort. Although no profits are generated, current copyright prohibits duplication and redistribution. Grotesque, A Gothic Epic© is not public domain; however it is freely accessible through GNO. Access is granted only through this website for worldwide audience enjoyment. No rights available for publishing, distribution, AI representation, purchase, or transfer. This presented literary work is irreversibly-sovereign, free for nonpublishable and personal reading only, and shall not be subject to explicit or implicit agreements, understandings, restrictions or surrenders of any sort; whether public or private, individual or institutional, corporative or governmental, or other. Susan Kelleher maintains all website control, and George (G.E.) Graven maintains all international intellectual property rights for any and all prior and future versions, revisions, translations, digital representations, and variations of the literary work: Grotesque, A Gothic Epic©, until the stated copyright expiration date, when it is properly and legally released into the public domain. Driven by Anonymous Polymath and more. Continued public access is ensured and protected under this non-profit humanitarian effort, forged exclusively as a digital and literary dedication to the late Gothic author: Edgar Allan Poe.
