“All human beings, as we meet them, are commingled out of good and evil: and Edward Hyde, alone, in the ranks of mankind, was pure evil.”
As far as human literature has gone back, there have always been tales designed to frighten, unnerve, scare or disgust. The horror genre pushes readers to the farthest corners of their imaginations, whilst also being amongst the biggest beacons for reflecting the norms and values of society around us. With the spooky season fast approaching, we thought we would take a look back at the history of the genre with 13 of our favourite classic horror books for you to read this Halloween!
The Castle of Otranto – Horace Walpole (1764)
There’s no definitive point at which the horror genre first began, however, Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto is widely recognised as the point at which its classical era really kickstarted its heyday.
Inspired by a nightmare Walpole had whilst staying in Strawberry Hill House, the novel follows Manfred. Lord of the castle whose son is one day killed by a medieval helmet in the building. With its setting and themes, the novel marks the first foray into the world of gothic has its influence can still be felt in the genre to this day.
The Italian – Ann Radcliffe (1796)
First published back in 1796, The Italian is the last novel to have been published by Ann Radcliffe during her life.
A sombre, dark and mysterious gothic novel, The Italian is renowned for its use of scene imagery to emphasise tension and to convey the feelings of its characters. With themes centring around disguise and concealment, the novel has built its reputation around antagonist Father Schedoni, whose legacy would go on to influence some of the most classic names from Victorian literature.
The Monk – Matthew Gregory Lewis (1796)
The Monk: A Romance is another deliciously dark gothic novel from 1796, written by Matthew Gregory Lewis when he was just nineteen.
Another one of the most defining titles of its time, The Monk follows the story of the monk Ambrosio, who is corrupted by the demon Matilda. The novel also features a number of branch plotlines recounting the gothic tales of various other characters, in what has become one of the most convoluted tales in the world of classic horror.
Frankenstein – Mary Shelley (1818)
One of the most celebrated and studied novels of all time, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is one of those points in literature every horror fan should pay homage to before they die.
One of the most adapted gothic horror pieces ever released, Frankenstein explores the themes of discovery, justice and prejudice in society and is still regarded as the first real attempt at science-fiction literature.
Famously produced on the back of a bet between Shelley, her husband Percy. John Polidori and Lord Byron, it’s safe to say this round goes to Mary.
The Vampyre – John Polidori (1819)
Another piece of classic horror fiction that came from the bet between the Percys and Lord Byron, The Vampyre is perhaps the moment where the romantic Vampire subgenre first made its debut.
The story follows Lord Ruthven, a sophisticated and enthralling English noble who meets a young man named Aubrey. The pair travel Europe together, however, when Aubrey begins to learn more about the dark world of Vampirism, things take a turn towards the sinister.
Melmoth the Wanderer – Charles Maturin (1820)
Melmoth The Wanderer is an 1820 novel written by Irish author and clergyman Charles Maturin. The novel takes a huge amount of influence from the legend of The Wandering Jew, a man who (after taunting Jesus Christ on his way to his crucifixion) is condemned to wandering the Earth until the Second Coming.
In what would be Maturin’s personal denouncement of Catholicism, the novel follows its titular character who, after making a pact with the Devil, spends 150 years walking the Earth hoping to pass on his curse to someone else.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow – Washington Irving (1820)
Written during his time in Birmingham, England, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is one of the first examples of American literature making a splash in the horror genre.
The story has gained a legendary reputation for introducing the world to the Headless Horseman character, one of the most enduring bits of folklore in horror history.
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The Hunchback of Notre Dame – Victor Hugo (1830)
Arguably the most famous piece of literature spawning from the Romanticism movement, The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a tale of impossible love and marginalised characters in society.
First published in 1830, Victor Hugo’s Renaissance setting and gothic tone has endured as one of the most crucial works in French history. Introducing the tragic character of Quasimodo, the novel has been recreated over a dozen times, made Notre Dame one of the country’s most famous landmarks, and helped preserve French culture during one of its most volatile eras.
Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde – Robert Louis Stevenson (1886)
Perhaps the enduring face of gothic Victorian literature, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a novella that tackles the good vs evil duality of mankind.
The story of a well-respected and law-abiding man that becomes a grotesque and murderous animal after consuming a mysterious substance, ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ has become embedded as a phrase in society, and remains one of Stevenson’s finest works.
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The Invisible Man – H.G. Wells (1897)
H.G. Wells is widely lauded as one of the chief founders of the science-fiction genre, with The Invisible Man arguably his finest work.
The book follows the story of Griffin, an ambitious scientist who embarks on an ambitious experiment to alter the refractive index of air around his body so that it neither absorbs nor reflects light. His work is successful in turning him invisible, but he is then unable to reverse it, helping to establish one of the finest works around individuality ever put to paper.
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Dracula – Bram Stoker (1897)
Bram Stoker’s Dracula is definitely one of those ‘moments’ that has truly gone on to define the world of horror.
Written through various letters and notes by Bram Stoker across the 1890s, Dracula came about through various pieces of Transylvania folklore. It introduced the world to enthralling horror characters such as the titular Count and his nemesis Abraham Van Helsing and has gone on to set the majority of rules most Vampire adaptations have followed to this day.
Le Fantôme de l’Opéra – Gaston Leroux (1910)
Le Fantôme de l’Opéra (The Phantom of the Opera) might be known these days for its adaptations on the stage, but it also remains one of the most defining pieces of literature from classic horror history.
Written by French author Gaston Leroux, the novel was loosely based on real-world events and follows the story of the Palais Garnier Opera House and its supposed haunting by an entity known as the Phantom of the Opera. With its themes of empathy, understanding and acceptance, it is a beautiful example of a marriage that comes with gothic horror and romanticism.
Cool Air – H. P. Lovecraft (1925)
Another classic case of American literature influencing the classic horror genre, Cool Air is a 1925 short story by H.P. Lovecraft.
First published in the March 1928 issue of the Tales of Magic and Mystery magazine, Cool Air was influenced by Lovecraft’s unpleasant stay in New York City and revolves around an enigmatic physician hellbent on defying death no matter the cost. With themes around mortality and the emotional struggles that come with death, its gruesome conclusion is one of the all-time great endings in the world of horror.
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Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
