Some of the most popular and enduring novels and short stories are works of Gothic fiction, including Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, and "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe. These creepy, creaky literary classics have the power to transport listeners to foggy moors and crumbling estates, where wolves howl in the night and shadows lurk in the hallways. But Gothic fiction is more than just cobwebs and candelabras.
What is Gothic fiction?
One of the primary definitions of “Gothic” relates to an architectural style that originated in northern France in the 12th century. This style was used on cathedrals, castles, mansions, and more. With its large, looming windows, pointy peaks, and dark facades, Gothic architecture paved the way for a whole gloomy genre of music, fashion, and, of course, literature.
Gothic fiction's roots go back nearly 300 years to Britain in the mid-18th century. Like Gothic architecture, this literary style is marked by vivid images of foreboding castles and mansions with secret alcoves and shadowy rooms. But it's also defined by a mood. Gothic fiction embraces a romantic idealization of death, mixed with high drama and the supernatural. An offshoot of the movement of Romanticism, which was popularized in the first half of the 18th century in Europe and marked by abundance of emotions and imagination, Gothic fiction took such passionate characteristics and added a darker tone. Fans of Gothic fiction embraced the genre's dives into the unknown and the mysterious, reveling in the sensation of being kept on edge. While an enormous departure from the realistic works that had dominated literature for so long, it was welcomed with wide open arms.
What is the history of Gothic fiction?
The first work to be classified as Gothic literature is English author Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto, published in 1764. It is said that Walpole took inspiration from his own 18th-century Gothic-styled home (which had a very un-Goth name: Strawberry Hill House) for this novel. It tells the story of the doomed Manfred, lord of the castle, and his heirs. On the day his son is to wed a princess, a helmet falls from the castle wall and kills him. This is a tragedy, yes, but Manfred dreads something worse than his son's death: an ancient curse on his family. Divorce, mistaken identity, ghosts, murder, and general mayhem ensue.
After Walpole, other early contributors to Gothic literature included William Thomas Beckford, Matthew Lewis, Ann Radcliffe, and Clara Reeve. As the 18th century came to a close, the hallmarks of the genre were well established—but it wasn't until the 19th century that works of Gothic literature became popular worldwide. Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher" is one of the early popular examples and one of the first widely published works of Gothic fiction by an American. This short story is about the doomed Usher family and their descent into madness, and it is dripping with foreboding and despair.
Another great 19th century work of Gothic fiction is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, which was published in 1847. It is about a young woman named—you guessed it—Jane Eyre, who survives an unpleasant upbringing and is hired as a governess for Edward Rochester. Rochester's home is dark and frightening, with shadowy halls and strange noises in the night. To further complicate matters, Jane is overcome with romantic feelings for her employer. While this novel only flirts with the unexplained, later Gothic works of the 19th century feature actual supernatural happenings and creatures.
Over the successive decades and centuries, Gothic fiction has endured, with many more classics added to the canon. In the early 20th century, the genre also spawned its own subgenre in the United States: Southern Gothic fiction. This subgenre combines all the marks of Gothic fiction, such as the crumbling buildings and feelings of despair, but the works are set in the Southern USA. Popular Southern Gothic authors include Flannery O'Connor, William Faulkner, Carson McCullers, Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, and Anne Rice. And today, the term Gothic fiction has become widely used to describe works of heightened drama and horror in any setting, even outer space.
Now that you know the definition of Gothic fiction and where it came from, here are a few engrossing audiobooks to deepen your immersion. From classics of the genre to a selection of fantastic recent entries, these are just a sampling of the great listens Gothic fiction has to offer.
The Wife in the Attic by Rose Lerner, narrated by Elsa Lepecki Bean
Like many Gothic classics, The Wife in the Attic is a dark, historical romance. (In fact, it's very much like a queer retelling of Jane Eyre.) Poor Miss Oliver—who harbors a mysterious past—has been hired as the new governess of Goldengrove Manor. Her job is to teach English to her young charge, Tabby Palethorp. Since Tabby's mother became seriously ill, keeping to her bed all day and night, Tabby has grown a bit wild, and it is Miss Oliver's job to rein her in. But Tabby isn't the only thing vexing at Goldengrove Manor. Someone has cut the strings on Miss Oliver's guitar, and there are strange footsteps in the hall at night. Will Miss Oliver get to the bottom of these compelling mysteries? Brazilian American artist Elsa Lepecki Bean expertly narrates this Audible Original of high suspense and romance.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, narrated by Frankie Corzo
Set in 1950s Mexico, this novel is one of the most acclaimed contemporary works of Gothic fiction. When young Noemí Taboada's father receives a worrying letter from her recently married cousin, Catalina, he sends her to the newlyweds' home in the countryside to investigate. High Place is certainly secluded, with a mysterious aura, and Noemí's welcome is less than stellar. Her cousin's husband's family is reserved, if not guarded, except for the youngest son, who lets her in on some alarming family secrets. And though Catalina has brushed off the upsetting things she wrote in her letter, Noemí is about to get a look at some terrifying things herself. Seasoned actor and voice artist Frankie Corzo gives a stellar performance in this fresh twist on classic Gothic horror.
Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, narrated by Phoebe Fox, Rose Leslie, David Tennant, David Horovitch, James Wilby, Susan Wooldridge, Hannah Genesius
This is Audible's original, Audie Award-nominated adaptation of one of the first-published vampire thrillers. Carmilla is the story of 18-year-old Laura, who lives with her widowed father. When the beautiful yet enigmatic Carmilla is left stranded in the forest after a carriage accident, she is welcomed into Laura's home. But as Carmilla and Laura spend more time together, their relationship becomes one of forbidden love and bloodlust that spins out of control. This tale of erotic Gothic horror features a topnotch cast of famed actors, including Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones and Downton Abbey), David Tennant (Doctor Who and Broadchurch), and Phoebe Fox (Life in Squares and The Great).
Rebecca by Daphné du Maurier, narrated by Anna Massey
No discussion of Gothic literature is complete without a mention of Daphne du Maurier's classic work of romantic suspense, winner of the Anthony Award for Best Novel of the Century, Rebecca. The unnamed young narrator of this story impulsively marries a wealthy widower after a whirlwind romance, before she realizes what the marriage entails. Suddenly, she finds herself at Manderley, her new husband's enormous estate, where she quickly learns that the spirit of his late wife, Rebecca, who died in a boating accident, haunts both him and the house. She also finds an enemy in Mrs. Danvers, the sinister housekeeper who makes it known that the narrator will never live up to the house's late mistress. Will the ghost of Rebecca and the secrets of Manderley be her undoing? The late great English actress Anna Massey delivers an exciting, vivid performance as the audiobook's narrator, capturing her gradual unraveling as she is driven to the edge of madness.
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, narrated by Emma Thompson
One of the greatest living actors, the Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Emmy winner Emma Thompson, lends her incredible talents to the Audible Original edition of this classic Gothic novella of psychological suspense and evil. The story, framed as a true account being read aloud to a young brother and sister, focuses on a young governess who accepts a position at a British country estate caring for the orphaned nephew and niece of a busy man who does not like to be bothered. She soon begins to see the figures of a man and woman she doesn't know and increasingly senses something otherworldly on the grounds. As the days go by, the governess starts to suspect that she's not alone in feeling the eerie presence: the children might know who—or what—it is. Can she save them all from the supernatural threat before it's too late? Or is the governess the one who is putting the children in danger?
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, narrated by Joanne Froggatt
And here's a classic novel of Gothic romantic suspense that is the epitome of moody and broody. Emily Brontë's only published novel is a turbulent tale of love, misunderstanding, and revenge. A passionate young man, Heathcliff believes he has been rejected by his true love, Catherine Earnshaw. He flees the foggy moors of his beloved Wuthering Heights to make money and a name for himself. Upon achieving his objective, he returns to the grounds where he was raised, seeking revenge on those he believes wronged him. Meanwhile, Catherine herself has many experiences of love and loss, as well as otherworldly visitations at her window. Will these two star-crossed lovers ever find their way back to each other? This production of Wuthering Heights is melodiously narrated by Golden Globe winner Joanne Froggatt, best known as Anna Bates on Downton Abbey. Froggatt's stirring performance won her Audible UK’s 2017 Narrator of the Year Award.
Beloved by Toni Morrison, narrated by Toni Morrison
This outstanding 1988 Pulitzer Prize-winning work of Gothic fiction is set after the Civil War and revolves around a malevolent spirit haunting a Cincinnati home. Sethe, a formerly enslaved woman, and her 18-year-old daughter, Denver, live in the home. Not only haunted by memories of her years as a slave, Sethe also believes her home is being terrorized by the ghost of her oldest daughter, who died nameless in infancy and whose tombstone is engraved with a single word: Beloved. This spine-chilling and heartbreaking audiobook will keep you up all night. And there’s simply no better way to experience this novel than to listen to it read by the legendary author Toni Morrison herself.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson, narrated by Bernadette Dunne
Merricat Blackwood lives in the crumbling family home with her older sister, Constance, and her ailing Uncle Julian. Years before, someone put arsenic in the sugar bowl and six of the Blackwood family members died. Now the remaining Blackwoods mostly keep to themselves, rarely venturing out into the small village where their hostile neighbors believe they got away with murder. Out of the blue, their estranged cousin Charles arrives and announces his intention to move into the home. He claims it's in the spirit of reuniting family, but Merricat suspects Charles of trying to get his hands on the Blackwood fortune. Can Merricat convince Constance of Charles's ulterior motives before their little world is tragically changed forever? Shirley Jackson's pillar of Gothic fiction is masterfully narrated by veteran voice actor Bernadette Dunne.
Dracula by Bram Stoker, narrated by Alan Cumming, Tim Curry, Simon Vance, Katherine Kellgren, Susan Duerden, John Lee, Graeme Malcolm, Steven Crossley
Dracula is the story of Jonathan Harker, his love, Mina, and his client, the Transylvanian noble Count Dracula. Harker's supernatural experiences at the Count's castle send him running back home, but the Count is soon to follow. Eventually, the blood baron will have a hold over all that Harker loves, including Mina It has been well over a century since the initial publication of Bram Stoker's work of vampire fiction, yet its popularity is still going strong. This epic Gothic tale of broody tension, love, and (blood)lust has captivated the hearts and minds of fans worldwide and inspired numerous adaptations. This exceptional Audible production, narrated by an all-star cast, returns the novel its epistolary form, with talented actors such as Tim Curry and Alan Cumming lending their voice to the series of letters and journal entries that drive the story. It won the 2013 Audie Award for Distinguished Achievement in Production and Multi-voiced Performance.
The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling, narrated by Mandy Weston
Last but not least on our list, this outstanding new work of Gothic romantic suspense is sure to thrill fans of the genre. Jane Shoringfield is a practical young woman with a head for numbers and no interest in matters of the heart. To satisfy societal conventions and her financial needs, she decides to pursue a marriage of convenience. However, when she meets her first choice for a husband, widower Dr. Augustus Lawrence, she can't deny the spark between them. Augustus agrees to her proposal, with one condition: Jane must never visit Lindridge Hall, his isolated, rundown manor home. Instead, she is to live in the quarters above his practice. She complies—but as (bad) luck would have it, Jane becomes stranded at the door of Lindridge Hall on the very night of their wedding day. She finds Augustus a changed man from the one she married that morning, and his decrepit home full of unspeakable terrors. Can Jane solve the mystery of the manor and rescue the man she loves? Seasoned British actor and voice artist Mandy Weston narrates this delightfully dark tale of terror.
