Horror Literature from Gothic to Post-Modern - by Michele Brittany & Nicholas Diak (Paperback)

About the Book

"The essays contained in this volume were adapted from presentations given at the 2017 and 2018 Ann Radcliffe Academic conferences."

Book Synopsis

From shambling zombies to Gothic ghosts, horror has entertained thrill-seeking readers for centuries. A versatile literary genre, it offers commentary on societal issues, fresh insight into the everyday and moral tales disguised in haunting tropes and grotesque acts, with many stories worthy of critical appraisal.

This collection of new essays takes in a range of topics, focusing on historic works such as Ann Radcliffe's Gaston de Blondeville (1826) and modern novels including Max Brooks' World War Z. Other contributions examine weird fiction, Stephen King, Richard Laymon, Indigenous Australian monster mythology and horror in picture books for young children.

Review Quotes

"Engaging"-Horror Buzz

"Indeed, the comprehensive variety of essays covering a range of historical contexts, genres, texts, narrative styles, and key issues within this collection offers the volume as a foundational text for horror students and scholars alike... Not including this in library collections would be 'truly horrific.'"-Journal of Ecohumanism

"Well-argued and novel."-The Incredible Nineteenth Century

About the Author

Michele Brittany is the book review editor for the Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics and is the co-chair of the Ann Radcliffe Conference held in conjunction with Horror Writers Association's annual Stokercon. She lives in Glendale, Arizona. Nicholas Diak is a pop culture scholar specializing in Italian spy films, post-industrial and synthwave music, and the works of H.P. Lovecraft. He has contributed essays, editorials and reviews to a variety of books, journals, and pop culture websites. He lives in Glendale, Arizona.