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Gothic Novel Recommendations
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items In my opinion, Gothic novels are perfect for this time of year. This transition between fall and winter; the days are getting shorter, they're darker and colder. What brings more comfort than a book? The Gothic genre is marked by horror, often a dark...
Sections
3
19th Century Gothic
20th Century Gothic
21st Century Gothic
19th Century Gothic
One of the most well-known Gothic texts. This novel is the perfect mix of eerie, grotesque, and emotionally impactful. Victor Frankenstein plays God as he creates a monster who only wants human connection.
Frankenstein: The 1818 Text by Mary Shelley
One of my favourites. This is where the depiction of a vampire in a Romanian castle filled with coffins and bats comes from. This novel is genuinely so spooky and entertaining. The imagery and characters are so vivid you will feel like you're there a...
Dracula by Bram Stoker
This beloved novel by Charlotte Bronte draws inspiration from the Gothic genre. The setting, Thornfield Hall, and a certain mysterious character (no spoilers) make this a realistic novel that borrows from Gothic tradition, perfect for fall/winter.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
This novel emphasizes what happens when humans fight their mortallity. Dorian Gray sells his soul in order to stay young forever. However, his portrait illustrates his internal decay and his double life.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
This is commonly thought of as the first “Sensation Novel”, a very popular genre during the Victorian Era. Suspenseful, exciting and spooky, this novel shows a man's descent into crime and madness after a midnight encounter with a woman in white and ...
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
20th Century Gothic
Iconic Gothic novels from the 20th century
This is a powerful 19th century southern gothic novel. Taking place in southern USA, it follows Sethe, and escaped slave. However, Sethe cannot escape the ghosts of her past, including the ghost of her dead baby. This is a heartbreaking and poetic no...
Beloved: Pulitzer Prize Winner by Toni Morrison
This is a classic supernatural thriller. It follows four people who arrive at the notoriously spooky property called Hill House. As the novel progresses, the power of the house becomes apparent.
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
21st Century Gothic
Modern Gothic novels from our current century!
This novel takes place on the west coast of Canada, in a small village called Kitamaat. It follows the story of Lisa Marie, a young indigenous girl who has a gift for seeing things others cannot see. The story begins with her brother disappearing at ...
Monkey Beach by Eden Robinson
This is one of my favourite novels of all time. Set in Barcelona during the beginning of the 20th century, the story follows Daniel: an antiquarian bookseller's son who discovers a mysterious book and with it, opens a world of mystery, danger, and su...
The Shadow of the Wind