Gothic Authors who can give you Nightmares

Gothic Authors who can give you Nightmares: Reading books is an experience that can be barely matched by other entertainment alternatives like movies or tv series. Books are an engaging medium which hooks us in its world. Through books we can travel to different places, understand different personalities and experience a wide range of emotions. The best part about reading a book is that it’s a two way commitment. Where a skilled writer can engage you in his/her world. But you also need to commit, your commitment can enhance the reading experience drastically. This is the beauty of reading a book which most people have forgotten.

There are many genres in books but very few genres can match the intensity & excitement of Gothic Fictions. The suspense and mystery creates an unmatched curiosity which results in an array of emotions & expressions like goosebumps and Nightmares. So, here we’ll be looking at a few such authors who can build-up an unmated curiosity level through their novels & books.

Ann Radcliffe

The first in our list is the English novelist ‘Ann Radcliffe’ who is often referred to as the pioneer of Gothic Friction. Radcliffe was born on the 9th of July in 1764 in London. Ann only published 5 novels in her lifetime (1764-1823). She referred to her five novels as “Romances”. Ann Radcliffe was one of the most popular writers of her times and was also called the Shakespeare of romance-writers. In the 1970’s, Ann Radcliffe’s techniques of explaining and mentioning supernatural elements & phenomena gave her novels recognition as Gothic Fiction. Her final novel ‘Gaston de Blondeville’ was published three years after Ann Radcliffe’s death.

Mary Shelley

The next author on our list is Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin who’s known for her Gothic Novel ‘Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus’. The English novelist was born in 1797 in London. Mary’s mother ‘Mary Wollstonecraft’ was a famous femanist philosopher and writer. While her father ‘William Godwin’ was a journalist and political philosopher. Shelley was married to the renowned English Poet ‘Percy Bysshe Shelley’. Mary Shelley is known for her political commentary and edge in her literary works.

Bram Stoker

Stoker is a celebrated Irish author who was born on the 8th of November in 1847. Abraham Stoker is popular for his renowned Gothic horror novel ‘Dracula’. Bram was the personal assistant of iconic actor Sir Henry Irving and also acted as the business manager of the Lyceum Theatre of London. Bram Stoker started his journey in writing with a handbook ‘The Duties of Clerks of Petty Sessions in Ireland’ which was published in 1879. His other works include novels like ‘The Snake’s Pass’.

Charlotte Riddell

Mrs. J.H. Riddell is an Victorian Era writer who was born on the 30th September of 1832 in Ireland. Riddell was an influential and popular writer of her times. Charlotte has written more than 50 books. She was also the co-owner and editor of one of London’s prominent liberty journals ‘St. James’s Magazine’. She is remembered for her books like Night Shivers (Tales of Mystery & the Supernatural), Weird Stories and Horror by Lamplight.

Mary Elizabeth Braddon

Often referred to as the queen of sensation, ‘Mary Elizabeth Braddon’ was a Victorian Era novelist who was born on the 4th of October of 1835 in London. Mary Elizabeth Braddon is known for her renowned sensational novel ‘Lady Audley’s Secret’ which was published in 1862. The English novelist has composed more than 80 novels. Braddon also wrote some popular Gothic Fictions like the ghost stories “The Cold Embrace”, “Eveline’s Visitant” and “At Chrighton Abbey” to name a few.

M.R. James

The English author and scholar Montague Rhodes James is commonly referred as M.R. James. The English author was born on the 1st of August in 1862. Montague Rhodes James was also the  Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1913 to 1915. Talking about his literary works M.R. James is remembered for his ghost stories. Many even consider him the best story writer in the Gothic genre. Some of his popular work in the genre includes classics like Ghost Stories of an Antiquary, A Thin Ghost and Others, and A Warning to the Curious and Other Ghost Stories.

Wendy Webb

Wendy Webb is known for her Gothic suspense thrillers. Wendy was born on the 18th of August in 1962 in Minnesota. The American author is known for her works like The Fate of Mercy Alban, The Vanishing,  The Tale of Halcyon Crane, The End of Temperance Dare, Daughters of the Lake and The Haunting of Brynn Wilder. While her novel ‘Daughters of the Lake’ is often credited as one the best Gothic suspense novels of recent times. 

Vernon Lee

Violet Paget aka Vernon Lee (pen name) was a British Writer who was born on the 14th of October in 1856. Lee is famous for her supernatural fiction. However, she has also written a dozen volumes of essays on music, art and travel. Some of her renowned works include literary works like ‘Hauntings’, ‘A Phantom Lover’, ‘The Spirit of Rome, and Laurus Nobilis’.

Robert Aickmann

Robert Fordyce Aickman was a conservationist and an English writer. He was born in London on the 27th of June in 1914. Aickmann is famous for his supernatural fictions. Robert Aickmann described his supernatural fictions as “Strange Stories”. Aickmann was best known for his  “Strange stories” which were published in 8 volumes and one of the volumes was published post his death in 1981.

Shirley Jackson

Shirley Jackson was another popular American Writer who is known for her horror & mystery books and novels. Jackson was born on the 14th of December in 1916 in San Francisco. The writer wrote more than two hundred stories, six novels and two memories in her two decade long writing career. The talented writer passed away in her late 40’s (1965). Shirley Jackson’s creations have won several accolades and awards. Some of her famous creations are “The Lottery”, “The Summer People”, “Louisa, Please Come Home” and her iconic horror novel  The Haunting of Hill House.

Also Read: 10 Creepiest Novels of All Time