Tilting at Numbers: A Critical Analysis of the Quixotic Attitudes and Picaresque Undertones in Ramsey Campbell’s The Count of Eleven
Tilting at Numbers: A Critical Analysis of the Quixotic Attitudes and Picaresque Undertones in Ramsey Campbell’s The Count of Eleven

Summary/Abstract: Ramsey Campbell, whose illustrious writing career began as a result of being introduced to the eldritch works of H.P. Lovecraft, is frequently referred to as one of the most prolific authors in the field of British horror. However, the motifs, literary structures, and character archetypes found in his writings often stem from other genres. With this background in mind, this article undertakes a critical analysis of The Count of Eleven, one of Campbell’s best-known works, through a dual spectrum of picaresque traditions and quixotic mentalities. The initial aim of this process is to assess the depth and breadth of the conceptual interconnections that exist between Campbell’s novel and Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote – one of the cornerstones of pícaro-focused storytelling. This will allow for an estimation of the effectiveness with which the British writer employs picaresque ideas to achieve narrative goals usually associated with works of horror and social commentaries. It will also provide insight into the current pop and sociocultural relevance of the literary concepts discussed and about the validity of the pícaro archetype in the contemporary Western mediascape.

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