Classic Horror - Christchurch City Libraries | Christchurch City Libraries

Frankenstein

Or, The Modern Prometheus

by Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft, 1797-1851

Book - 1980

This classic contains elements of monster horror, science fiction and gothic romance. It is a foreboding tale of a science experiment gone awry. Having cr...Show more This classic contains elements of monster horror, science fiction and gothic romance. It is a foreboding tale of a science experiment gone awry. Having crafted a creature from stolen body parts, Frankenstein is horrified by the hideousness of what he has created. Racked with loneliness, this tragic, nameless creature turns on its maker. Show less

Available in some locations

Place a Hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Dracula

by Stoker, Bram, 1847-1912

Book - 1979

Featuring all the staple ingredients of a good gothic horror; ancient stone castles, terrorized young maidens, supernatural beings and an eerie, mystical ...Show more Featuring all the staple ingredients of a good gothic horror; ancient stone castles, terrorized young maidens, supernatural beings and an eerie, mystical ambiance, Bram Stoker’s classic horror novel starring the inimitable Count paved the way for the rise of vampire fiction. Beginning in the Transylvania region and ending up in Victorian-era England, The novel is set out in epistolary format (journal entries, newspaper clippings, log entries etc.). Show less

Available in some locations

Place a Hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

The Haunting of Hill House

by Jackson, Shirley, 1916-1965

Book - 1960

If you prefer to get your thrills from tales of ghosts and possessions, Amityville style, this will be up your alley, it is THE classic haunted house stor...Show more If you prefer to get your thrills from tales of ghosts and possessions, Amityville style, this will be up your alley, it is THE classic haunted house story. Set in an isolated mansion, the terror lies in the paranormal occurrences experienced by the main characters. This novel has twice been adapted for film as well as a Netflix horror series. Show less

All copies in use. Availability details

Place a Hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

The New Annotated H. P. Lovecraft

by Lovecraft, H. P. 1890-1937

Book - 2014

Tales revolving around the concept that humans exist, blissfully unaware, in a universe swarming with ancient extra-terrestrial and supernatural life, and...Show more Tales revolving around the concept that humans exist, blissfully unaware, in a universe swarming with ancient extra-terrestrial and supernatural life, and stories that are delightfully teeming with such monsters. H.P. Lovecraft is a leading figurehead in horror fiction. His work deviates from that of many of his contemporaries who wrote in the field of gothic horror, and contains strong sci-fi influences. Show less

Available in some locations

Place a Hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

The Turn of the Screw [and] The Aspern Papers

by James, Henry, 1843-1916

Book - 1952 1935

Amidst a lot of old, mysterious buildings and towers, ghostly sightings, and starring a hapless governess who is determined to protect her two young charg...Show more Amidst a lot of old, mysterious buildings and towers, ghostly sightings, and starring a hapless governess who is determined to protect her two young charges from the perils of these malevolent spirits, 'The Turn of the Screw' blends gothic and supernatural horror and is a ripping and truly spooky ghost story - a must for lovers of classic horror. Show less

Available in some locations

Place a Hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Rosemary's Baby

by Levin, Ira, 1929-2007

Book - 2011

A horror of the psychologically disturbing variety and a nightmare waiting to happen! We begin with a newly-wed couple moving in to a Gothic-revival style...Show more A horror of the psychologically disturbing variety and a nightmare waiting to happen! We begin with a newly-wed couple moving in to a Gothic-revival style apartment in New York with a suitably creepy past, and ends in all sorts of horrors involving a satanic cult and, suffice it to say, may serve as a baby-having deterrent. Show less

Available in some locations

Place a Hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

The Shining

by King, Stephen, 1947-

Book - 1977

One of Stephen King’s defining works and a classic of the modern horror genre. Taking place in a haunted hotel with a dark history, there are plenty of su...Show more One of Stephen King’s defining works and a classic of the modern horror genre. Taking place in a haunted hotel with a dark history, there are plenty of supernatural chills in the Shining, which is definitely a slow-burning horror. The Shining deals also with themes of domestic violence and alcoholism, and documents the main character’s slow descent into madness. Show less

Available in some locations

Place a Hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

House of Leaves

by Danielewski, Mark Z., 1966-

Book - 2000

This book will get your imagination humming and your skin crawling, when a young family discovers their new house is bigger of the inside than it is on th...Show more This book will get your imagination humming and your skin crawling, when a young family discovers their new house is bigger of the inside than it is on the outside, and all is not as it seems . A modern horror with a cult following, one thing to be aware of is the atypical layout and format of this book– it is full of symbols and codes and sideways text, so it's one that you will be investing a fair amount of time and energy into. But well worthwhile! Show less

Available in some locations

Place a Hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

The Castle of Otranto

by Walpole, Horace, 1717-1797

Book - 1950

Featuring lots of intrigue, murder, foreboding omens, an ancient prophecy and a haunted castle. If you’re a fan of Mary Shelley or Edgar Allan Poe then yo...Show more Featuring lots of intrigue, murder, foreboding omens, an ancient prophecy and a haunted castle. If you’re a fan of Mary Shelley or Edgar Allan Poe then you’ll love where this story will take you. A creepy supernatural horror classic, widely regarded as the book that launched gothic fiction. Show less

Available in some locations

Place a Hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

The Invisible Man

by Wells, H. G. 1866-1946

Downloadable Audiobook - 2008

This classic is a perfect marriage of sci-fi and horror. The student protagonist conducts an experiment, turns himself invisible and is unable to reverse the effects. What follows is his descent in to madness and a rampage of crime and terror. This classic is a perfect marriage of sci-fi and horror. The student protagonist conducts an experiment, turns himself invisible and is unable to reverse the effects. What follows is his descent in to madness and a rampage of crime and terror. Show less

Available

Checkout Now

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

The Birds

by Du Maurier, Daphne, 1907-1989

Downloadable Audiobook - 2007

Read this and you'll become familiar with the nightmare of suddenly and desperately needing to protect your eyeballs from being violently snuffed out by s...Show more Read this and you'll become familiar with the nightmare of suddenly and desperately needing to protect your eyeballs from being violently snuffed out by swarms of missile seagulls. This is the terror of Daphne Du Maurier's classic tale, set in a seaside town in Cornwall, the plight of whose residents is documented as they are inexplicably terrorized by a plague of birds which drift in and out of kamikaze mode according to the tide. You may be familiar with Alfred Hitchcock's rendition of 'The Birds' on the big screen. Show less

Available

Checkout Now

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Interview With the Vampire

A Novel

by Rice, Anne, 1941-

Book - 1976

A tragic and disturbing gothic horror with elements of romance, and a gothic horror about the life of a vampire told by the vampire himself. Over the cour...Show more A tragic and disturbing gothic horror with elements of romance, and a gothic horror about the life of a vampire told by the vampire himself. Over the course of the narrative you will uncover the trials and tribulations you could imagine are associated with vampirism, such as immortality and loneliness, and a good dose of bloodsucking of course. Show less

Available in some locations

Place a Hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

The Exorcist

by Blatty, William Peter, 1928-2017

Book - 2011

A supernatural horror and deals with demonic possession. Made all the more disturbing by way of the fact that the possessed is an eleven year old child (the daughter of a Hollywood actress). The film was scary - the book will make you shiver! A supernatural horror and deals with demonic possession. Made all the more disturbing by way of the fact that the possessed is an eleven year old child (the daughter of a Hollywood actress). The film was scary - the book will make you shiver! Show less

All copies in use. Availability details

Place a Hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Search

Classic Horror - Christchurch City Libraries

Blogs & News

I want to ...

Library sites

Hot topics

Contact us

Contact Us

Contact Us

Search

Classic Horror - Christchurch City Libraries

Footer Menu

Blogs & News

I want to ...

Library sites

Hot topics

Contact us

Contact Us

Contact Us