Classic horror

Novels that not only define horror but also explore deep psychological and existential themes, making them timeless reads that have left a lasting impact on the genre.

Updated October 21, 2024
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The castle of Otranto : a gothic story
Walpole, Horace 1717-1797
Paper Book
When Conrad, son of Prince Manfred of Otranto, is killed in mysterious circumstances on his wedding day, his father, fearing his line is at an end, declares that he will divorce his wife and marry his late son's intended bride. Soon, however, this planned union brings about a series of...
Frankenstein
Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft 1797-1851
Paper Book
Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein: or, the Modern Prometheus (1818) is a combination of Gothic horror story and science fiction first conceived for a writing challenge by Lord Byron when she was just eighteen. It is the story of Victor Frankenstein, a Swiss student of natural science who...
The strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Stevenson, Robert Louis 1850-1894
Paper Book
An intriguing combination of fantasy thriller and moral allegory, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde depicts the gripping struggle of two opposing personalities - one essentially good, the other evil - for the soul of one man. Its tingling suspense and intelligent and sensitive portrayal of man's dual nature...
The picture of Dorian Gray
Wilde, Oscar 1854-1900
Paper Book
Discover the story of The Picture of Dorian Gray with this striking collector's edition from Union Square & Co.'s Signature Editions series! The classic texts that shaped our culture feature exclusive cover art by distinguished artist Malika Favre. Her bold, graphic style gives each...
Dracula
Stoker, Bram 1847-1912
Paper Book
First published in 1897 by Irish author Bram Stoker, Dracula introduced the vampire Count Dracula as its primary protagonist, and its story of possession and unreal love became a prototype for works of vampire fiction even more popular today that when the novel was first published. Literary critics...
The phantom of the opera
Leroux, Gaston 1868-1927
Paper Book
A sparkling new translation of the novel that inspired the most popular stage musical of all time. Rumors abound that a ghost stalks the dark passages and cellars of the Paris Opera House. No one has actually seen this Phantom, but Christine Daa , a beautiful and talented young singer,...
The haunting of Hill House
Jackson, Shirley 1916-1965
Paper Book
The greatest haunted house story ever written--the inspiration for the hit Netflix horror series! First published in 1959, Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House has been hailed as a perfect work of unnerving terror. It is the story of four seekers who arrive at a...

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