Sinister histories is the first book to offer a detailed exploration of the Gothic's response to Enlightenment historiography. It uncovers hitherto-neglected relationships between fiction and prominent works of eighteenth-century history, locating the Gothic novel in a range of new interdisciplinary contexts. Drawing on ideas from literary studies, history, politics and philosophy, the book demonstrates the extent to which historical works influenced and shaped Gothic fiction from the 1760s to the early nineteenth century. Through a series of detailed readings of texts from The Castle of Otranto (1764) to Maria, or The Wrongs of Woman (1798), this book offers an alternative account of the Gothic's development and a sustained revaluation of the creative legacies of the French Revolution.

Sadly neglected today, Frank Baker (1908-1983) was an intriguing and highly original author of fantasy and horror fiction, best known for his post-apocalyptic novel of an avian attack, The Birds (1936), which may have been an influence on Hitchcock’s film, and Miss Hargreaves(1940), a classic in which two young men invent a story about an unusual old woman only to discover that they have actually brought her to life. First published in 1983 and long unavailable, Stories of the Strange and Sinister collects ten of Baker’s short stories and displays the versatility of his work. Included are wonderfully macabre tales like ‘The Chocolate Box’, in which a discarded box found on a Cornish moor contains a gruesome surprise, and ‘In the Steam Room’, where a man enjoying a sauna believes he glimpses a horrible event through the steam, as well as more subtle tales of the fantastic like ‘My Lady Sweet, Arise’, in which a woman’s compulsion to sing ends with strange consequences, and ‘Quintin Claribel’, the story of a rude young man who must – quite literally – eat his words. This first-ever republication includes a new introduction by R. B. Russell. Frank Baker’s The Birds is also available from Valancourt.

" ... the future of man and the automobile ..."--Front wrapper. Each story preceded by 1-3 paragraphs of commentary.

Over a hundred gripping tales of murder and mystery, ghosts and ghouls, body-snatching and witch-burning reveal the darker side of genteel Edinburgh's history. Ghostly Tales & Sinister Stories of Old Edinburgh is a highly readable collection, fully illustrated throughout and compiled by the three historians who operate Mercat Tours. Since 1984 over 25,000 visitors have enjoyed their nightly rounds of the closes and wynds of Edinburgh's Old Town. Now you can read of the macabre exploits of Edinburgh's infamous villains--Deacon Brodie, Burke & Hare, Major Weir, Agnes Fynnie and a host of others--which bring this ancient city intriguingly to life.

Throughout the annals of history, few subjects have captivated the human imagination and incited as much dread as the concept of demons. These evil entities, depicted across cultures and epochs, have haunted the shadows of our collective consciousness, embodying our deepest fears and darkest impulses. This reference book, 50 of History's Most Sinister Demons, seeks to explore and chronicle the lore surrounding fifty of the most infamous demons known to humanity. Each chapter of this book provides a comprehensive examination of a single demon, drawing from ancient texts, folklore, and contemporary interpretations. By presenting these entities in a structured and detailed manner, we aim to offer readers not only a glimpse into the terrifying world of demons but also an understanding of how these beings have influenced and reflected the human experience. Whether you approach this book as a scholar, a seeker of the macabre, or a casual reader with a penchant for the eerie, we hope it serves as both an informative and chilling journey through the dark corridors of demonology. Each page turned brings you face to face with the harbingers of chaos, the lords of darkness, and the very embodiments of evil. Welcome to 50 of History's Most Sinister Demons—a compilation of terror, legend, and the supernatural forces that have shaped human history.

55 stories. 55 words each. No more. No less. Enjoy this collection of flash fiction with a sinister twist. Size does matter in these delightfully tiny tales populated with narcoleptic drivers, bickering backers, suspicious spouses, and other memorable characters. Full of dark humor, intrigue, and absurdity, this collection of slightly sinister (and occasionally sweet) stories delivers a bite-size reading experience to satisfy any literary craving.