Books in this genre give you an adrenaline rush when you read them so you will stay on your toes. There are many books about crimes in this genre.{1} It has its beginnings in the Pre-Romantic era which started in the late 1800's.{2} This genre was invented by Horace Walpole.{4} His story, Castle of Otrano written in 1765, is what gave the Gothic novel its name because of its medieval setting. It was very popular and was imitated by other authors.{5} The most popular novelist of the 18th century was Ann Radcliffe. Her best works include Sicilian Romance, The Mysteries of Udolpho, and The Italian.

     Gothic Novels didn't make their appearance until 1790 to 1830, but they are not just limited to this time period [9]. Gothic novels dominated the literary scene[7] until about 1815 when their publication lessened and then by 1820 they started to fade [10]. The famous novel Frankenstein was written by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley in 1818. In the 19th century, Gothic influence continued with works from Sherdian Le Fanu, Wilkie Collins, and Bram Stoker. Edgar Allan Poe was one of the many authors who transformed Gothic fiction. His work had a sense of structure [5].  

    In 1902 an author named W.W. Jacobs wrote the Monkey's Paw. This story was the most significant contribution to the genre as well as the most popular short story of the century. In the 20th century the genre was revived with sci-fi and fantasy authors like Mervyn Peak, Arther Machen, and H.P. Lovecraft.{4}  H.P. Lovecraft is an influential horror and sci-fi author. In his fiction stories Lovecraft uses actual folklore. Some of his works include The Nameless City, The Shadow Over Innsmouth, and The Rats in the Walls.{6} Popularity of "horror tales" in the 20th century skyrocketed. Several new types of Gothic novels arose [5]. Even though Gothic novels have almost disappeared in western literature, they have had a huge amount of influence on genres today, and genres from the past like Romanticism [10].

     Awards for Gothic novel/ horror fiction are the Bram Stoker Award and the Shirley Jackson Award. The Bram Stoker Award  is given out for "Superior Achievement" in horror literature. This award is in honor of Bram Stoker the author of "Dracula." The Shirley Jackson Award is given out for "Outstanding Achievement in the literature of psychological suspense, horror, and the dark fantasies."  The Horror Writer's Association presents these two awards to those who are most worthy of it [11].

     The atmosphere or characteristics of Gothic novels is gloom, mystery, and suspense[7]. The atmosphere is not just dread and terror but the deterioration of the world, showing that the world was once beautiful and full of life and now it's a lifeless place full of decay and despair [9]. Some other elements of Gothic novels are the ability to challenge reality, violent events that can't be hidden, and a hidden double reality [8]. These elements were designed to awaken the reader's imagination [7]. The whole purpose of Gothic novels is to create fear or terror, to bring the readers' nightmares to life [8], and to invoke the reader and make them feel the suspense in the words [7].

     According to a survey of teen reading, mysteries are the most popular books among teens who report reading several different genres. The second most popular genre is horror/thriller. Girls read more horror/thriller books than boys.{3} 

Supernatural

A related genre is Supernatural. The word supernatural pertains to some force that is beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature. So book in the supernatural fiction genre would include such entities as ghosts, demons, or witches. Sometimes horror and supernatural intermingle, but Elizabeth Hand defines the difference. {13} She says that horror is all about the shock value. It seeks to make the reader catch his breath and a rereading of the book would be pointless. Supernatural, on the other hand, is all about creating characters and an foreboding atmosphere. The most successful supernatural stories are, Hand continues, set in our world. They create a frightening mood by combining everyday life with an otherworldly element that enters it. Supernatural fiction has its roots in eighteenth and nineteenth century gothic romances. 

Some of its best known authors are Anne Rice, Edith Wharton, John Collier and M.R. James. 

                                                        Horror authors Page                 

List of famous horror films that are based off of a horror book:

-       The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

-       The Shining by Stephen King

-       American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

-       Dracula by Bram Stoker

-       Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

-       The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty

-       Jaws by Peter Benchley 

[12]

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Ryan, Carrie. The Dead- Tossed Waves. New York: Delacorte Press, 2010.

For Gabry, home is all she has ever known, just the waves of the sea and the lighthouse where she and her mother live. When an adventure outside the barrier with her friends goes wrong, her world is flipped upside down. Almost half of her generation in Vista is either infected and dead or imprisoned with a fate of being forced into the Recruiters. When she finds out a shocking secret from her mother, she feels completely lost and alone. She risks her life to go see the one she loves outside the barrier, but he is infected. With the help of a new-found friend she and her family along with old friends embark upon a life-changing journey full of twists and turns, romance, horror, and life-changing trials. Follow Gabry on the journey as you read The Dead-Tossed Waves.

Recommended By: Amanda C.

{1} "Thriller (genre)." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 7 Dec. 2011. Web. 16 Dec. 2011.<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triller_(genre)>.

{2} "Mystery Story." The New Encyclopaedia Britannica.  2010 ed. . Print.

{3} "Mysteries,Thrillers Are Top Choices For Pleasure Reading Among Teens.''Reading Today 14.4 (1997):30. Literary Reference Center Plus., 8 Dec. 2011. Web. 8 Dec.2011.

{4} "Horror Story (narrative Genre)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 09 May 2012. <http://www.britannica.com

{5} Melani, Lilia. "The Gothic Experience." Department of English Liloa Melani. Brooklyn College, 26 Aug. 2008. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

{6} Evans, Timothy H. "A Last Defense against the Dark: Folklore, Horror, and the Uses of Tradition in the Works of H. P. Lovecraft." Journal of Folklore Research: An International Journal of Folklore and Ethnomusicology  Jan-Apr 2005: 99-135. Web. NCWiseOwl. 16 May 2012.

[7] Butcher, Matt. "From Gothicism to Romanticism: The History of Gothic Literature." Helium. RRDonnelly, May 2007. Web. 07 Dec. 2012.

[12] D. (Darmean). "Horror films based on books." Goodreads. Good Reads, 18 Oct. 2012. Web. 5 May 2015.

[13] Hand, Elizabeth. “Writing the Supernatural Novel.” Writer (Kalmbach Publishing Co.), vol. 109, no. 5, May 1996, p. 17. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,custuid&custid=s8455861&db=mat&AN=9604102805&site=eds-live&scope=site.