The Horror of History: Historical Horror Novels

There’s a reason so much horror these days is set in the past: nothing is quite as creepy as the unfamiliar and unknown. For so much of human history, we’ve worked on hunches and guesswork to explain the world around us. Out of this guesswork grew the myths we all know and love today about vampires and werewolves and witches. But these creatures weren’t always viewed as myth. For much of history, they were believed to be very real. Even today, unexplained phenomena remain situated somewhere between science and magic, with paranormal explanations filling in the gaps until we can ascertain the truth of the things happening all around us. Without artificial lighting, without medical knowledge, without near-instant mass communication, the known and unknown sat so much more closely side by side, which is exactly why history and horror go so well together in my mind. There’s nothing quite as atmospheric as a cliff-side gothic mansion, and there’s nothing quite as horrifying as a tale that defies all logic and reason. These historical horror novels, full of monsters both manmade and mythic, are proof of exactly that. Read them if you dare, and be thankful you at least can turn on a light ...