Horror Aficionados discussion

Subgenre of both horror and historical fiction, typically either a Victorian or Edwardian setting.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle
The Ghost Writer
The Seance
The Woman in Black

Ken B wrote: "We Have Always Lived in the Castle
The Ghost Writer
The Seance
The Woman in Black"

Great picks!

This genre sounds really cool

Dracula will never get old

Dracul

Anno Dracula

WendyB wrote: "Anno Dracula"

That's also a steampunk horror title. I find Kim Newman very hard to read. It is tough getting into his writing style for me.

Haunted Castles by Ray Russell has two stories that I think fit, "Sardonicus" and "Sagittarius."

The Somnambulist by Jonathan Barnes

The Man in the Picture by Susan Hill

Set a bit before Victoria, I believe, but too good not to mention: The Stress of Her Regard by Tim Powers

There are titles I'd call more associated but not horror, still possibly of interest:
Mary Reilly
The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter
A Study in Terror

The Alienist; mostly under the Mystery genre; but can be a little creepy, just like We Have Always Lived in a Castle.

A Parliament of Crows

Before the Fact by Francis Iles.

If you have ever seen the Alfred Hitchcock movie Suspicion, this is a great read-along. The ending of the book is darker than the movie - the movie is less gaslighting, but the novel - oh!

(view spoiler)[It ends with the main character so much in love with her husband that she willingly drinks poison and hopes he gets away with killing her, she's that gaslit by him. (hide spoiler)]

One of my favorites is The Picture of Dorian Gray

It's a classic for a reason.

What exactly is "gaslight horror"?

Sasha wrote: "What exactly is "gaslight horror"?"

Horror set in victorian or pre-victorian times...like Dracula.

Arka wrote: "Sasha wrote: "What exactly is "gaslight horror"?"

Horror set in victorian or pre-victorian times...like Dracula."

Really? I thought it was psychological manipulation horror (i.e. to gaslight someone).

Arthur wrote: "Arka wrote: "Sasha wrote: "What exactly is "gaslight horror"?"

Horror set in victorian or pre-victorian times...like Dracula."

Really? I thought it was psychological manipulation horror (i.e. to ..."
Being "gaslighted" is psychological manipulation.
Gaslight horror is Victorian era-ish time frame.

"To gaslight" comes from the play, Gaslight, later made into two 1940s movies, one British and the other one American (Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer). It was set in Victorian times.

If I ever start reading more I definitely need to check out this genre.

Yes I too thought gaslight would be like george Cukor’s movie of said name where someone is manipulating someone else to make them think they are crazy...like the girl on the train and secret history...I suppose strangers on a train is also similar except it was more of a deal with the devil without realizing it rather than someone trying to deceive or trick someone else...
Cheers though, definitely not trying to pick on you!
All of this just got me thinking about how much I enjoy deceivers, Tom Ripley of Patricia highsmith fame is certainly one of the best and my favorite in this genre!

Arka wrote: "Sasha wrote: "What exactly is "gaslight horror"?"

Horror set in victorian or pre-victorian times...like Dracula."

This is a thread I should follow. I love this combination!

Arthur wrote: "Arka wrote: "Sasha wrote: "What exactly is "gaslight horror"?"

Horror set in victorian or pre-victorian times...like Dracula."

Really? I thought it was psychological manipulation horror (i.e. to ..."

I'm glad I wasn't the only one! 😂

Drood Dan Simmons

Highly recommended in this field. It includes historic facts from the lives of Victorians such as Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins and Sir John Franklin of the eponymous lost expedition. Sir John was also written of in The Terror by the same author.