A Gothic novel calls forth paradoxically thrilling feelings of horror and pleasure in the reader. These “dark” novels feature fictitious prose saturated with mysterious adventures, supernatural horrors, fantasy, and mysticism. Family curses, vampires, ghosts, and monsters frequently appear within the storylines. Gothic novels originated in 18th century England and are the precursors to the modern “horror” genre. Often the story is set in an old castle or building that had been built in the Gothic style. Thus, the name of the genre derives from the story's backdrop, which features prominently in the mood and action of the story. Frankenstein: A Modern Prometheus tells about the life and studies of Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who manages to harness the mystery of life and transform dead flesh into a living man. The man, however, is a monster and begins to pursue his creator. Dracula is a novel that has greatly impacted modern culture. It can be said to be the mother of the vampire genre of prose and television serials that are so popular in the 21st century. Carmilla is another vampire novel that, while lesser-known, was one of the first popular gothic novels to feature vampires. In it, the young Laura tries to fend off the predatory and romantic advances of a female vampire. Contents: 1. Mary W. Shelley: Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus 2. Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu: Carmilla 3. Bram Stoker: Dracula

The ultimate collection of classic horror. Dracula by Bram Stoker - Read the story of Dracula's attempt to move from Transylvania to England so that he may find new blood, spreading the horrors of the undead curse, and follow the battle between Dracula and a small group of men and a woman led by Professor Abraham Van Helsing.Frankenstein by Mary Shelley - Follow the harrowing tale of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a hideous, sapient creature in an unorthodox scientific experiment. He finds, however, that there are terrible consequences for playing God...

String garlic by the window and hang a cross around your neck! The most powerful vampire of all time returns in our Stepping Stone Classic adaption of the original tale by Bran Stoker. Follow Johnathan Harker, Mina Harker, and Dr. Abraham van Helsing as they discover the true nature of evil. Their battle to destroy Count Dracula takes them from the crags of his castle to the streets of London... and back again.

The terrifying story of a young man who has recurring nightmares. A classic story of fear from the master of Edwardian Literature. This classic short story, originally published in 1912, is being republished here together with a new introductory biography of the author.

This two-volume set offers comprehensive coverage of horror literature that spans its deep history, dominant themes, significant works, and major authors, such as Stephen King, Edgar Allan Poe, and Anne Rice, as well as lesser-known horror writers. Many of today's horror story fans—who appreciate horror through movies, television, video games, graphic novels, and other forms—probably don't realize that horror literature is not only one of the most popular types of literature but one of the oldest. People have always been mesmerized by stories that speak to their deepest fears. Horror Literature through History shows 21st-century horror fans the literary sources of their favorite entertainment and the rich intrinsic value of horror literature in its own right. Through profiles of major authors, critical analyses of important works, and overview essays focused on horror during particular periods as well as on related issues such as religion, apocalypticism, social criticism, and gender, readers will discover the fascinating early roots and evolution of horror writings as well as the reciprocal influence of horror literature and horror cinema. This unique two-volume reference set provides wide coverage that is current and compelling to modern readers—who are of course also eager consumers of entertainment. In the first section, overview essays on horror during different historical periods situate works of horror literature within the social, cultural, historical, and intellectual currents of their respective eras, creating a seamless narrative of the genre's evolution from ancient times to the present. The second section demonstrates how otherwise unrelated works of horror have influenced each other, how horror subgenres have evolved, and how a broad range of topics within horror—such as ghosts, vampires, religion, and gender roles—have been handled across time. The set also provides alphabetically arranged reference entries on authors, works, and specialized topics that enable readers to zero in on information and concepts presented in the other sections.