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 mysteries of Udolpho : a romance
Radcliffe, Ann Ward 1764-1823
Frankenstein
Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft 1797-1851
Paper Book
One of the BBC's '100 Novels That Shaped Our World' 'That rare story to pass from literature into myth' The New York Times Mary Shelley's chilling Gothic tale was conceived when she was only eighteen, living with her lover Percy Shelley on Lake...
Carmilla
Le Fanu, Joseph Sheridan 1814-1873
Paper Book
Isolated in a remote mansion in a central European forest, Laura longs for companionship - until a carriage accident brings another young woman into her life: the secretive and sometimes erratic Carmilla. As Carmilla's actions become more puzzling and volatile, Laura develops bizarre symptoms, and...
The strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Stevenson, Robert Louis 1850-1894
Audiobook
Gabriel Utterson is intrigued by the sinister figure of Mr Hyde, and the latter's strange relationship with Utterson's good friend, Dr Jekyll. When Mr Hyde beats a Member of Parliament to death, Gabriel Utterson tries to get to the bottom of the mystery and eventually discovers Dr Jekyll's dark...
The picture of Dorian Gray
Wilde, Oscar 1854-1900
Paper Book
Indulge in the captivating world of Oscar Wilde's masterpiece The Picture of Dorian Gray. This exquisite edition presents Wilde's iconic novel in a visually stunning format, offering readers a luxurious reading experience. Immerse yourself in the decadence, beauty, and moral complexity of Dorian...
The yellow wall-paper and other stories
Gilman, Charlotte Perkins 1860-1935
Paper Book
Charlotte Perkins Gilman was America's leading feminist intellectual of the early twentieth century. The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories makes available the fullest selection ever printed of her short fiction, featuring the pioneering feminist masterpiece of the title, her stories contemporary...
The great god Pan and other horror stories
Machen, Arthur 1863-1947
Paper Book
Something pushed out from the body there on the floor, and stretched forth a slimy, wavering tentacle... Perhaps no figure better embodies the transition from the Gothic tradition to modern horror than Arthur Machen. In the final decade of the nineteenth century, the Welsh writer...
Dracula
Stoker, Bram 1847-1912
Paper Book
Introducing the ultimate collector's edition of Dracula by Bram Stoker, the best-known vampire novel of all time, now in an exquisite special edition featuring sprayed edges and an introduction and appendices by renowned fantasy editor Marvin Kaye. The luxurious design and...
The phantom of the opera
Leroux, Gaston 1868-1927
Paper Book
The Phantom of the Opera is Gaston Leroux's exquisite blend of Gothic horror and tragic romance, which formed the basis for a world-renowned stage musical. This Penguin Classics edition is translated with notes by Mireille Ribiere, and an introduction by Jann Matlock. When the...
The call of Cthulhu and other weird stories
Lovecraft, H. P. (Howard Phillips) 1890-1937
Paper Book
Part of the Penguin Orange Collection, a limited-run series of twelve influential and beloved American classics in a bold series design offering a modern take on the iconic Penguin paperback Winner of the 2016 AIGA + Design Observer 50 Books | 50 Covers competition ...
The haunting of Hill House
Jackson, Shirley 1916-1965
Paper Book
Part of a new six-volume series of the best in classic horror, selected by award-winning director Guillermo del Toro. 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...

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