Gothic Novel Suggestions?
 

Hello everyone. I love to read, and I am currently reading the short stories of Edgar Allan Poe. I am planning on checking out a Goth novel from the local library after I have read all of Poe's short stories.

I have been interested in horror novels since I was a child. I have not read a horror novel in a very long time. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for an enthralling read; I would very much like to check out a Gothic Horror novel.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

:)

Shirley Jackson. Specifically, The Haunting of Hill House.

Frankenstein. Eisenhorn if you like a mix of science fiction as well.

"City Infernal" by Edward Lee if you can find a copy. Hell's a steampunk city that a living young woman travels to in order to find her sister.

I'm with Saya. Definitely Shirley Jackson's two novellas. Here are a few more:

H.P. Lovecraft
All the Bronte sisters (esp. Wuthering Heights)
Henry James
M.R. James
J. Sheridan Le Fanu

I could make a very long list. :)

I would recommend checking out Gothic anthologies of short stories. They hare fantastic introductions to various writers. I like Stephen Crane's shorts, for example, but not his novels. Stoker's Dracula is fantastic, but his shorts are okay. There are even a few collections out there with old and new Gothic authors together. Enjoy!

By far, the most Gothic literature I have ever read was John Webster's 'The Duchess of Malfi'. As it was penned in the early 1600's the language is at times a little bit of a trial to digest, but in all honesty it is very worth digestion (x)

Some brilliant classic gothic literature that I've read is:

"Wuthering Heights" - Emily Bronte
"Dracula" - Bram Stoker (of course!)
"Frankenstein" - Mary Shelley (another given)
"Castle of Otranto" - Horace Walpole - considered to be the first gothic novel
"Mysteries of Udolpho" - Ann Radcliffe
"The Woman in White" - Wilkie Collins (also check out The Moonstone)
"The Phantom of the Opera" - Gaston LeRoux

Well done Ligeia. Good list. Also worth reading is Bram Stoker's 'The Jewel of Seven Stars'. 'The Mysteries of Udolpho' took me ages to read but it immediately became one of my favourites. Of Ann Radcliffe's other gothic work, 'The Italian' is worth reading and Matthew Lewis' "The Monk" (another classic novel) Dumas' 'The Count of Monte Cristo' has many gothic elements too.

On a more modern note I'm a huge fan of Lord Dunsany. His novel, 'The King of Elfland's Daughter' is a timeless classic.

I also love the dark steam-punk novels of British author China Mieville. In particular, 'Perdido Street Station', his master piece in my opinion and 'The Scar'.

A good alternative to Tolkien is Michael Moorcock. His alternative swords and sorcery novels of the 1960s - 80s contributed to S&S becoming, once and for all, an adult genre.

Thank you Stormbringer. I have taken notes :)