---
product_id: 516745447
title: "Goth: A History"
price: "$U1450"
currency: UYU
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 11
url: https://www.desertcart.uy/products/516745447-goth-a-history
store_origin: UY
region: Uruguay
---

# Goth: A History

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Goth: A History [Tolhurst, Lol] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Goth: A History

Review: Great to read - Very enjoyable book. Part memoir part historical narrative. I learned quite a few things about the English post punk scene. It was fun to read musical assessments written by an experienced professional musician who has walked the walk. It’s not a Feel-good collection of essays. It’s a historical account by someone who was there and has high musical standards.
Review: A Long Term Effect - The French-Romanian philospher E.M. Cioran said that the possiblity of suicide was a consolation that allowed him to continue living. This paradoxical way of thinking is one that I believe most goths would immediately understand, and it gets at the heart of Lol Tolhurst’s personal and intellectual investigation of what was known as the goth movement of the 80s. I began reading Tolhurst’s “Goth: A History” at the same time as John Robb’s “The Art of Darkness: The History of Goth.” Robb’s work is encyclopedic in every sense of the word. Though it is an excellent reference guide, I found the reading to be more informative than engaging. That is not the case with Tolhurst’s work, which is at once personal, philosophical, and archival. Reviewers can squabble about the bands Tolhurst names or fails to name as “goth,” but I think this misses the point. Those seeking a comprehensive overview of goth will probably find Robb’s book the resource they are looking for. (Though Robb’s book seems to privilege a British perspective. For instance, Christian Death do not even appear in the index, which will leave most goths on this side of the pond scratching their heads.) Tolhurst’s book, on the other hand, is testament of his metaphysical and psychological soul searching, more than just dates and background about various bands. Reminiscing about first attending a Clash show as an adolescent, Tolhurst remarks that “what I saw that night […] was more akin to one of Saint Augustine’s ecstatic visions than a simple rock show.” Years later, The Cure would provide that same epiphanic experience for others. I was 17 in 1985 when I saw The Cure at The Tower theater in Philadelphia. The experience was life-changing in part because the music and lyrics expressed so precisely what we were feeling. Tolhurst astutely notes that “in goth, lyrics form out of emotional vulnerability as opposed to bravado and certainty. The process is one of internal analysis and confession, revealing to the world frailty and humanity.” But there was more: seeing The Cure or Christian Death one found what Leah Bush is quoted as calling “community.” But I think a more precise word is communion. And it is communion that goth readers will find in this book, in the form of Tolhurst’s recollections, reflections, interviews, and speculations. The tone is conversational, intimate, and consoling. Goth readers will find a kindred spirit in Tolhurst. As he says early on in the book, “The Cure did not have a particular style; rather, we were the essence of a melancholy spirit.” That seems right. Goth was never just a musical movement, a fashion statement; goth was (and is) a mode of being, a lens through which many see the world. Tolhurst’s book is full of insights such as these and others, and I highly recommend it.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #72,118 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #35 in Music History & Criticism (Books) #106 in Popular Culture in Social Sciences #137 in Rock Music (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (305) |
| Dimensions  | 6.55 x 0.88 x 9.3 inches |
| ISBN-10  | 0306828421 |
| ISBN-13  | 978-0306828423 |
| Item Weight  | 2.31 pounds |
| Language  | English |
| Print length  | 256 pages |
| Publication date  | September 26, 2023 |
| Publisher  | Da Capo |

## Images

![Goth: A History - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91D7UsDbU-L.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great to read
*by B***N on January 11, 2026*

Very enjoyable book. Part memoir part historical narrative. I learned quite a few things about the English post punk scene. It was fun to read musical assessments written by an experienced professional musician who has walked the walk. It’s not a Feel-good collection of essays. It’s a historical account by someone who was there and has high musical standards.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Long Term Effect
*by J***M on October 10, 2023*

The French-Romanian philospher E.M. Cioran said that the possiblity of suicide was a consolation that allowed him to continue living. This paradoxical way of thinking is one that I believe most goths would immediately understand, and it gets at the heart of Lol Tolhurst’s personal and intellectual investigation of what was known as the goth movement of the 80s. I began reading Tolhurst’s “Goth: A History” at the same time as John Robb’s “The Art of Darkness: The History of Goth.” Robb’s work is encyclopedic in every sense of the word. Though it is an excellent reference guide, I found the reading to be more informative than engaging. That is not the case with Tolhurst’s work, which is at once personal, philosophical, and archival. Reviewers can squabble about the bands Tolhurst names or fails to name as “goth,” but I think this misses the point. Those seeking a comprehensive overview of goth will probably find Robb’s book the resource they are looking for. (Though Robb’s book seems to privilege a British perspective. For instance, Christian Death do not even appear in the index, which will leave most goths on this side of the pond scratching their heads.) Tolhurst’s book, on the other hand, is testament of his metaphysical and psychological soul searching, more than just dates and background about various bands. Reminiscing about first attending a Clash show as an adolescent, Tolhurst remarks that “what I saw that night […] was more akin to one of Saint Augustine’s ecstatic visions than a simple rock show.” Years later, The Cure would provide that same epiphanic experience for others. I was 17 in 1985 when I saw The Cure at The Tower theater in Philadelphia. The experience was life-changing in part because the music and lyrics expressed so precisely what we were feeling. Tolhurst astutely notes that “in goth, lyrics form out of emotional vulnerability as opposed to bravado and certainty. The process is one of internal analysis and confession, revealing to the world frailty and humanity.” But there was more: seeing The Cure or Christian Death one found what Leah Bush is quoted as calling “community.” But I think a more precise word is communion. And it is communion that goth readers will find in this book, in the form of Tolhurst’s recollections, reflections, interviews, and speculations. The tone is conversational, intimate, and consoling. Goth readers will find a kindred spirit in Tolhurst. As he says early on in the book, “The Cure did not have a particular style; rather, we were the essence of a melancholy spirit.” That seems right. Goth was never just a musical movement, a fashion statement; goth was (and is) a mode of being, a lens through which many see the world. Tolhurst’s book is full of insights such as these and others, and I highly recommend it.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Top read- love Lols writings!!
*by J***B on December 16, 2025*

Lols first book was such a fabulous journey into my favorite band and a personal experience we can all learn from- so well written!!- Goth is an even deeper dive into the genre (per se) and lifestyle and incorporates all things dark in just the right manner

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*Product available on Desertcart Uruguay*
*Store origin: UY*
*Last updated: 2026-02-16*