Gothic Classics

By Megan Powell, Magali Prel and Monique Smith 

As Halloween approaches, this is the perfect time of the year to enrich your TBR (to be read) list with some spooky stories, and there is no better way to do so than with classic literature. Deeply rooted in history and myth, classic Gothic stories are full of captivating details that pioneered the way for the horror and Gothic genres. 

Many favourite caricatures of Halloween originated in the works by classic writers, such as the Dickensian model of ghost stories at Christmas advancing the oral tradition. From the vampire to the werewolf, these Gothic representations were created in the classic canon, homing some of literature’s most iconic characters such as Carmilla and Dracula. 

There are also supernatural elements that provoke the eerie essence and disbelief in the otherworldly realms of Gothic stories. However, what makes these Gothic stories so compelling is their commitment to reality and bending the rules of representation to surpass literary expectations. Here are some of our favourite Gothic classics that will surely have you on the edge of your seat this Halloween. 

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a Gothic short story by American writer Washington Irving, first published in 1820. The story follows Ichabod Crane, who arrives in the small rural town of Sleepy Hollow to work as a schoolteacher. He is captivated by the local legends of hauntings, especially that of the Headless Horseman. The Horseman is said to roam the woods at night, searching for his missing head. 

During Ichabod’s ride home after a party, he encounters the Headless Horseman. The next morning, Ichabod disappears, never to be seen again. His strange disappearance leaves some villagers questioning what truly happened that night in the woods of Sleepy Hollow. 

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow qualifies as a Gothic short story because of its eerie setting, supernatural presence and psychological tension. The setting of Sleepy Hollow is quintessentially Gothic – described as remote and mysterious, the village of Sleepy Hollow is an unsettling, otherworldly place. Furthermore, Gothic stories often feature supernatural or unexplained phenomena. The Headless Horseman is said to be the ghost of a Hessian soldier who was decapitated during the Revolutionary War. The blending of the real and supernatural blurs the line between the two worlds, a classic Gothic device. 

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

We Have Always Lived in the Castle is a 1962 mystery Gothic novel by American author Shirley Jackson. It was Jackson’s final work, published three years before her death.

The story is told from the point of view of eighteen-year-old Mary Katherine “Merricat” Blackwood, who lives in her family’s mansion with her older sister, Constance, and their Uncle Julian. A mysterious and tragic event that took place six years prior – taking the lives of their parents, aunt and younger brother – has left them ostracised from the small village in which they reside. Much of the story revolves around the mysterious past event and the narrative prompts the reader to figure out exactly what happened. Throughout the novel, there is a sense that the truth lies just out of reach. For some characters, truth is indistinguishable from conjecture, and for the two who know the facts, their versions of the truth never quite align.

Jackson masterfully utilises undependable narrations and perspectives in this mystery. Not only is Merricat unreliable, but her sanity and motives appear questionable at times, and nearly every character in the story seems to lack key knowledge or appears mentally affected.

Written in deceptively simple language, We Have Always Lived in the Castle draws readers in with its outward simplicity and captures them with its dark, unsettling truths. 

Gothic Tales by Elizabeth Gaskell

For a great collection of Gothic stories, we recommend Elizabeth Gaskell’s aptly titled Gothic Tales. Perhaps it is a welcome surprise to see Gaskell turn her pen from her remarkable social novels like North and South to lend her skill to the Gothic genre. The breadth of Gaskell’s literary skills continues to captivate readers, and Gothic Tales is no exception in showcasing her versatility.

Throughout each tale, Gaskell weaves Gothic elements into her variety of stories, blending the supernatural with realism. This compelling yet intricate quality adds to the eerie atmosphere, making this collection the perfect companion for your Halloween reads. Some notable tales include ‘Disappearances’, which utilises the classic Gothic quality of borrowing from myth and local legend, and ‘Curious, If True’, which reimagines classic fairy tales similar to Angela Carter’s The Bloody Chamber. Like Dickens, Gaskell helped pave the way for future Gothic stories in the Victorian era. Within the nine eerie and chilling stories, Gaskell’s Gothic Tales is sure to enhance the spooky atmosphere this Halloween season.