If I Wrote for Well Read Company

This blog is what I would have written for Well Read Company as Halloween approaches.

Deliciously Gothic Novels to Sink Your Fangs Into this Halloween

All Hallow’s Eve is creeping around the corner and, to celebrate such a spooky occasion, we’ve made a list of some of our favourite Gothic novels to curdle the blood and quicken the heart.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Mary Shelley was just 18 when she was struck with the idea of Frankenstein, giving birth to literature's most legendary monster. Also known as The Modern Prometheus, Frankenstein follows an eccentric scientist as his wild experimentations create life in the form of a sapient creature. Frankenstein has profoundly influenced modern culture, forming an entire genre of horror and, 200 years on, Frankenstein’s creation still has the power to petrify.

The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole

No Gothic reading list would be complete without the grandfather of the genre. The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole is an eerie tale of madness, murder and betrayal, filled with ghostly visions and tempestuous passions. Walpole was the first author to apply the term ‘Gothic’ to a work of literature, leading The Castle of Otranto to define the genre and pave the way for other beloved Gothic novels, like Dracula and The Picture of Dorian Gray.

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

Set in the Paris Opera House during the late 19th century, Christine, a young soprano, is haunted by a mysterious figure claiming to be her dead father. Spoiler alert: it isn’t. This sumptuously gothic story from Gaston Leroux is a perfect Halloween read, dealing with themes of obsession, jealousy and death.

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Striking fear in the hearts of readers for generations and spawning some of the most iconic characters in all of literature, Dracula is a must-read for any avid bookworm. Introducing the world to the vampire, Bram Stoker started a craze that readers are still thirsting for over a century later. An epistolic novel, the plot is revealed through letter exchanges, reports, diary entries and a captain’s log, offering insights into the terror Stoker’s characters experience whilst shaping Dracula into a sinister villain that you won’t forget in a hurry.

Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

Centred around the gothic theme of the struggle between good and bad, light and dark, The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde follows Doctor Henry Jekyll, a normal man who becomes possessed by an evil version of himself, committing horrifying acts whilst under the control of Mr Edward Hyde. At just over 100 pages, this is a short but chilling read - ideal for curling up with on a dark October night.