Introduction to Horror Fiction

This online article, provided on the British Library’s website through their Discovering Literature: Romantics and Victorians collection, is a great resource among the vast compilation of collections and articles. The article traces the origins of the gothic (as the title suggests) into the rise of popularity of the genre during the Victorian era, examining well-known titles from the time such as Dracula and Wuthering Heights. Again, this article is useful for those wanting to know the history of horror and get a good sense of which books to read. Published by The British Library.

This article explores a specific horror author: H.P. Lovecraft, critically examines some controversial themes that are present in his work (specifically eugenics and racism), but also the scientific thought at the time of his writing. The intended audience will find this useful in writing papers that explore Lovecraft, but also will appreciate how it explains where Lovecraft stands in the horror arena as a whole (and how to read/understand his works). Published by the International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts.

This article explores a possible reading of Dracula as a story dealing with heterosexual marriage and homosexual desire. The author takes into account how vampirism can be metaphorically read to represent illicit (and socially unacceptable) desires being repressed and then expressed through vampiric actions (such as bloodsucking). This article is helpful for those wishing to analyze a classic Gothic tale through the lens of queer theory. Published by Duke University Press.

For those looking to analyze modern horror, this article offers a close look at various works by British author Clive Barker. Barker's stories are examined closely by various writers, pulling apart possible symbolism and themes that run throughout. A short biography on Barker is provided as well. Published by Washington Post Book World.