Horror fiction dates back to ancient times and comes from folklore and religious traditions. They include themes of death, the afterlife, evil, and supernatural beings like demons, witches, vampires, werewolves, and ghosts. Ancient Greek and Roman authors influenced the foundation of Horror fiction. Notably, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was influenced by the story of Hippolytus, whom Asclepius revived from death.
The earliest recorded tales with elements of horror, fear, despair, and horror archetypes can be traced back to ancient Sumeria. However, the horror fiction genre was not only shaped by ancient tales but also by real-world events. For example, the Vatican’s Inquisition of 1235, driven by a desire to reestablish orthodoxy, led to charges of heresy and allegations of witchcraft.
These accusations persisted into the 17th century, fueling the portrayal of witches in horror fiction. Similarly, in the 12th century, werewolf stories, such as Marie de France’s Bisclavret, gained popularity, showing how societal fears and beliefs can shape a genre.
18th Century: Early Horror Influences
Published in 1764 by Horace Walpole, The Castle of Otranto is a seminal work that not only pioneered Gothic fiction but also holds the distinction of being the first novel in the horror fiction genre. Its inclusion of supernatural elements and creation of a suspenseful atmosphere were groundbreaking contributions to early horror literature, marking a significant turning point in the genre’s history.
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19th Century: Gothic Horror and Supernatural Tales
Mary Shelley’s 1818 Frankenstein is a groundbreaking work that delves into themes of creation, ambition, and the consequences of playing God. On that fateful evening, when Shelley’s tale was written in Lord Byron’s mansion, another participant, Dr. Polidori, established the vampire sub-genre by publishing The Vampyr in the New Monthly Magazine (1819).
Edgar Allan Poe, often credited with bringing the Gothic tradition to America, significantly contributed to the horror genre. His first story, MS Found in a Bottle, published in the Baltimore Saturday Visitor in 1833, marked the beginning of his illustrious career. Poe’s talent for producing exceptional macabre tales earned him the title of ‘master of the macabre. His 1838 work, The Fall of the House of Usher, is a testament to his mastery of the horror genre.
The genre also included children’s stories, considered scandalous by today’s standards, with horrific tales such as Jakob and Willhelm Grimm’s Kinder und Hausmarchen (1832) and Gruesome (1835).
Later that century, vampire lore was established and popularized by Bram Stoker’s Dracula in 1897.
Early 20th Century: Pulp Horror and Weird Fiction
This new century changed the outlook on Horror fiction in 1919 with H.P. Lovecraft’s The Call of Cthulhu, which showcased cosmic horror, and the Cthulhu Mythos, which became influential in the genre. This was followed by Algernon Blackwood’s The Willows, a haunting story set in a desolate landscape that showcases the power of nature and the unknown. At the Mountains of Madness is another crucial work in Lovecraft’s mythos of exploring ancient, otherworldly horrors in Antarctica.
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Mid-20th Century: Horror Pioneers and Modern Classics
Here, we can see more of a penchant for psychological horror in, for example, Shirley Jackson’s 1959 The Haunting of Hill House, which is about a haunted house and its effect on its inhabitants. Then, in 1967, Ira Levin’s Rosemary’s Baby dealt with supernatural horror as a young woman suspects her unborn child may be part of a sinister conspiracy.
Finally, Stephen King’s first published novel, Carrie, is about a bullied teenage girl with telekinetic powers, blending horror with coming-of-age themes. Then we have The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty in 1975, a terrifying story of demonic possession and the battle between good and evil.
Late 20th Century: Horror Boom and Subgenre Diversification
In 1986, Stephen King wrote It, a sprawling horror epic about a group of friends confronting a shape-shifting entity in their hometown, five years later, Thomas Harris brought us Silence of the Lambs, a psychological thriller featuring the iconic character Hannibal Lecter, blending crime fiction with horror elements.
Lastly, Anne Rice’s first novel in her Vampire Chronicles, Interview with the Vampire, delves into vampires’ immortal lives and struggles. This period accentuates more individualistic entities or people and their horrors.
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21st Century: Modern Horror and Diverse Voices
The new century brings us various forms of horror fiction, such as The Girl with All the Gifts, a post-apocalyptic horror novel by M.R. Carey, published in 2005. The book explores themes of humanity and survival in a world overrun by zombie-like creatures. There is also Bird Box by Josh Malerman, in 2014, a suspenseful horror novel about a mother and her children navigating a world where looking at mysterious creatures leads to insanity.
The final installment is Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Mexican Gothic in 2017, blending Gothic horror with social commentary; this novel tells the story of a Mexican socialite encountering supernatural terrors in a decaying mansion.
These diverse narratives reflect the changing times and showcase the genre’s ability to adapt and evolve, offering the audience a rich and varied reading experience.
