Step into the shadowy realms of Gothic literature with Adaptive Reader’s curated Gothic library, where the macabre meets the sublime. This selection promises to immerse you in tales of eerie settings, psychological depth, and supernatural intrigue.
Gothic literature began in the late 18th century with Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto, which introduced key elements like haunted settings and supernatural occurrences. The genre flourished in the early 19th century with Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Bram Stoker’s Dracula, which expanded Gothic themes to include psychological horror and social anxieties.
Edgar Allan Poe further defined American Gothic with his exploration of macabre and psychological dread. As the genre evolved, it saw a revival in the late 19th century with works like Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and it continues to adapt and thrive in contemporary culture.
In our collection, each work is chosen to evoke a sense of dread and wonder, offering a journey through atmospheric landscapes and complex characters.
Join us in exploring these darkly captivating stories, where every page is steeped in mystery and every shadow holds a secret. Prepare to be enthralled by the haunting beauty and psychological intensity of Gothic literature.
READING LIST:
The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole (England, 1764)
Frankenstein by Mary Shelly (England, 1818)
“Rip Van Winkle” by Washington Irving (United States, 1818)
“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving (United States, 1820)
Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne (United States, 1835)
“The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe (United States, 1839)
“Masque of the Red Death” by Edgar Allan Poe (United States, 1842)
“The Pit and the Pendulum” by Edgar Allan Poe (United States, 1839)
“The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe (United States, 1843)
“The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe (United States, 1843)
“Rappaccini's Daughter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne (United States, 1844)
“The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe (United States, 1845)
“The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe (United States, 1846)
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (England, 1847)
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (England, 1847)
"Lenore," "Annabel Lee," "A Dream Within a Dream," "The Bells," and "To Science" by Edgar Allan Poe (United States, 1829-1849)
The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne (United States, 1851)
“A Signal-Man” by Charles Dickens (England, 1866)
Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu (Ireland, 1872)
“Markheim” by Robert Louis Stevenson (Scotland, 1885)
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (Scotland, 1886)
“The Black Monk” by Anton Chekov (Russia, 1894)
Dracula by Bram Stoker (England, 1897)
The Turn of The Screw (United States, 1898)
“The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W Jacobs (England, 1902)
