Shelley’s abandonment of his wife and child is what inspired the themes of Frankenstein: the abandonment of our children the responsibility to raise and care for them. Shelley herself gave birth to a child who died shortly after, while the dreadful Percy was tied up in a love affair with his own step-sister. The story behind Frankenstein is a dark affair. Written by a teenage Mary Shelley, after she fell in love with renowned poet Percy Shelley and spent many nights by the fireside, sharing tales with him and Lord Byron. The origin point of science fiction, the pinnacle of gothic fiction, and a turning point for horror stories. Frankenstein by Mary Shelleyįrankenstein is nothing short of a miracle. They have still been included because their authors were more known for short stories than for they were full novels, and they are equally important works within the horror genre. Note: Some of the classic horror stories in this part of the article are short stories, rather than full novels.

If you wish to journey back through the history of horror literature and discover the scariest stories ever written, these are the best horror novels from the genre’s past. Read More: Essential Modern Horror Novels (Not by Stephen King) Here, we are focussing on the best horror novels published before the 21st Century, beginning with the early years of the gothic.įor variety’s sake, most of the horror authors we discuss here are limited to one novel each, with one exception (and we’re sure you can guess who that is). Horror stories have existed for as long as there have been stories, with so many tales of folklore - from Europe to Japan - focussing on the monstrous and the supernatural. These are the best horror novels ever written, both classic and contemporary. We’ll cover the best horror novels from the far-reaches of the genre, right up to the present day. Here, you’ll find all of that and so much more. Many of the best horror novels of all time are ones that blend genres together, mixing horror with the gothic, thriller, and science fiction genres.

Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield.

My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones.

Tell Me I’m Worthless by Alison Rumfitt.Everything the Darkness Eats by Eric LaRocca.How to Sell A Haunted House by Grady Hendrix.Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica.Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice.Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury.

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson.

Haunted by James Herbert