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Gothic tales are filled with frightening creatures, forlorn estates, hidden attics, and many more dark secrets. This genre coincides with themes of the sublime, death, and sometimes even romance.
Gothic fiction is so broad that readers will come across at least one gothic book that they will love.
That’s why I combine a list of 10 classic gothic novels everyone should read at least once! 🕯
1. “Dracula” by Bram Stoker
“Dracula” is an absolutely amazing classic gothic novel that everyone should read.
The mystery follows Jonathan Harker who visits Transylvania to help his client Count Dracula to purchase a London house.
At Dracula’s castle, Harker discovers some horrifying things. Catastrophes start to happen in London; including odd puncture marks on a woman’s neck…
This is a classic dark tale that will have you shivering.
Buy “Dracula” Amazon | Indigo | Book Depository
2. “Carmilla” by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
I’m surprised that not many people know this but “Carmilla” is actually the piece of literature (a short novella) that inspired the writing of “Dracula.”
Essentially, it is a vampire story from the 1870s. The story follows a teenager and her father who live on an old Austrian estate.
Then, they take in an ill, mysterious house guest in the form of a young girl called Carmilla. Shortly afterward, things start to go wrong — incidents happen and the daughter, Laura, has severe nightmares and wakes up every day feeling more and more ill…
Buy “Carmilla” Amazon | Indigo | Book Depository
3. “Rebecca” by Daphne du Maurier
“Rebecca” is another hauntingly perfect gothic book. Brought back to attention recently by the recent movie featuring Lily James and Armie Hammer.
The young narrator falls in love with the handsome widower Maxim de Winter during her trip to the South of France. Maxim unexpectedly asks her to marry him. She agrees and goes back to his isolated Cornish estate. There, his estate is haunted by the whispers of his first wife, the deceased Rebecca.
Buy “Rebecca” Amazon | Indigo | Book Depository
4. “Northanger Abbey” by Jane Austen
“Northanger Abbey” delves into family mystery, high society, and has a good old gothic mansion.
The young, low-society, naïve heroine, Catherine Morland, has to navigate this world of conceit and false appearances. Along her trajectory towards Bath and to the mansion at Northanger Abbey, Catherine grows and matures. She develops skills that are invaluable to her.
However, she finds herself in a risky situation that could cost her her love interest Henry Tilney and her new friend, Tilney’s sister, Eleanor.
Buy “Northanger Abbey” Amazon | Indigo | Book Depository
5. “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë
“Jane Eyre” is another gothic romance much like “Rebecca.”
The story follows Jane Eyre, an orphan girl, who has had a hard childhood. Jane becomes a governess and works for a new employer, Mr Rochester.
Soon enough, she starts falling for him. But Jane’s hopes and dreams come crashing when secrets of Mr Rochester’s life becomes known – especially what lies in the attic.
Buy “Jane Eyre” Amazon | Indigo | Book Depository
6. “The Monk” by Matthew Gregory Lewis
At the time of its publication, 1796, “The Monk” fell into the taboo category. Gothic itself deals with the taboo and with ‘immoral’ subjects.
Without saying too much, “The Monk” takes place in Madrid, Spain. It traces the most venerated Monk of the Catholic Church of Madrid.
Furthermore, “The Monk” is an intricate piece of gothic fiction as it has two main plots and many subplots interweaving the main storylines. Every little bit that seems superfluous is actually not. Instead, all the storylines contribute to this heavy atmosphere of deceit and moral decay.
Buy “The Monk” Amazon | Indigo | Book Depository
7. “We Have Always Lived in the Castle” by Shirley Jackson
In “We Have Always Lived in the Castle,” we view the story of 18-year-old Mary Katherine Blackwood who lives with her sister Constance.
The sisters are orphaned since the rest of their family members are dead. They wish to defend their estate and prove that they are its rightful owners in order to save the castle from their prying cousin.
Buy “We Have Always Lived in the Castle” Amazon | Indigo | Book Depository
8. “The Haunting of Hill House” by Shirley Jackson
Yes there are two Shirley Jackson books on this list. In hopes that you will pick one of the two this spooky season!
“The Haunting of Hill House” follows four seekers who come to Hill house. There is Dr. Montague, an occult scholar who’s searching for the ‘haunting’; Theodora his assistant, Eleanor who’s well acquainted with poltergeists; and Luke, who is the future heir of Hill House.
As they stay, the house seems to grow more and more powerful still.
Buy “The Haunting of Hill House” Amazon | Indigo | Book Depository
9. “The Turn of the Screw” by Henry James
“The Turn of the Screw” is another great short gothic tale. It follows a young governess who has to care for two odd and silent children, Miles and Flora.
Strange things happen in the estate… a lurking creature wants to claim the children. But weirder yet, the children do not appear to be scared…
Buy “The Turn of the Screw” Amazon | Indigo | Book Depository
10. “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley
“Frankenstein” is an absolutely marvelous gothic classic in its own right; brilliant, and immortal in the themes it discusses.
In this story, there’s a monster plaguing the main character – of the name Victor Frankenstein – and his society.
However, this monster is created at the hands of young scientist Victor Frankenstein. The monster is a highly complex and intelligible entity. He raises important questions about society, hypocrisy, as well as the stark importance of acceptance, literacy, and compassion.
Buy “Frankenstein” Amazon | Indigo | Book Depository
I hope you enjoyed my list 10 classic gothic novels everyone should read at least once! What are some of your favourite gothic classics?
If you like more content like this: you can read my post on 20 Best Fall Books You Need to Read and 8 Classic Fall Books to Read this Fall.
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