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Classic Horror Ebooks
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items Here are classic horror ebooks and short stories you can read online for free. Make yourself a mug of steaming hot tea, grab a cozy blanket, and settle in by the fireplace for a nice long cozy evening of reading.
Here is Project Gutenberg's ebook of "Frankenstein: Or, The Modern Prometheus" by the mother of the science fiction genre, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. This book has had countless editions, film adaptations, inspired many games and other works of lit...
Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus
Dracula (published in 1897) wasn't the first vampire book, but it has possibly had the most impact on gothic and vampiric literature. There have been so many adaptations of the book into films, plays, television, other literary fiction, and of course...
Dracula : Bram Stoker
Here's another online copy of Bram Stoker's Dracula you can read, at the Internet Archive.
Dracula : Stoker, Bram, 1847-1912
Here's an 1891 copy of the classic horror novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray" that you can read online at The Internet Archive.
The picture of Dorian Gray : Wilde, Oscar, 1854-1900
The late 1800s were a busy time for horror authors. Here's a copy of "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson, from 1886. Enjoy reading it at The Internet Archive.
Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde : Stevenson, Robert Louis, 1850-1894
If it's easier for you to read a book by scrolling down (instead of paging across) here is Project Gutenberg's edition of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.
The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde | Project Gutenberg
Here's Project Gutenberg's etext of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher." You can enjoy reading the full book on a solemn, quiet rainy autumn night by the comfort of your fireplace.
The Fall of the House of Usher
Here's a gorgeous copy of "The Bells and Other Poems" by Edgar Allan Poe. I actually own an antique copy of this exact book. I love looking through the illustrations by Edmund Dulac. You can read the entire book here courtesy of The Internet Archive.
The bells and other poems : Poe, Edgar Allan, 1809-1849
Here is a gorgeous 1884 edition of The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe that you can read at The Internet Archive. Try “The Man Who Was Used Up,” “The Landscape Garden” and “Never Bet the Devil Your Head” if you haven't read those yet.
The complete works of Edgar Allan Poe : Poe, Edgar Allan, 1809-1849 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
Here is a stunning antique 1881 copy of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Bells." It's not a "classic horror novel" but I wanted to show it to you anyway, courtesy of The Internet Archive.
The bells : Poe, Edgar Allan, 1809-1849 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
You can read the full text of The Works of Edgar Allan Poe courtesy of Project Gutenberg. Try "The Island of the Fay," "Silence - a Fable" and "The Assignation" if you haven't read those lesser known works yet.
The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Volume 2, by Edgar Allan Poe
This Project Gutenberg copy of the 1906 edition of Oscar Wilde's "The Canterville Ghost" has illustrations by Wallace Goldsmith.
The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Canterville Ghost, by Oscar Wilde
Here is Project Gutenberg's edition of Edith Wharton's collection of short stories about relationships and the supernatural. Stories include “The Bolted Door,” “The Eyes,” “Full Circle” and “The Blond Beast.”
Tales of Men and Ghosts
Here is the Project Gutenberg edition of Algernon Blackwood's terrifying classic horror tale "The Willows."
The Willows by Algernon Blackwood
Here is the 1901 edition of the early classic horror story "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. It tells the story of a woman being driven mad, isolated in her bedroom and seeing a woman trapped in the pattern.
The yellow wall paper : Gilman, Charlotte Perkins, 1860-1935
Here's a classic short horror story by H.P. Lovecraft, "The Lurking Fear" which you can read courtesy of Project Gutenberg. This was published in "Weird Tales" magazine in 1928.
The Lurking Fear - Project Gutenberg
These 25 classic ghost stories were compiled by W. Bob Holland. You can read them courtesy of this Project Gutenberg copy. Try “The Spectre Bride,” “The Old Mansion” and “The Dead Woman's Photograph.”
Twenty-Five Ghost Stories - Project Gutenberg
This is the first known book about a vampire in the English language. "The Vampyre; a Tale" was by John William Polidori in 1819.
The Vampyre; a Tale
Read the original vampire horror novel by John Polidori, from 1819 in this beautiful antique edition at The Internet Archive.
The vampyre : a tale : Polidori, John William, 1795-1821