Andrew Barger's Blog

Poe was a connoisseur of the supernatural. As the author of Coffee with Poe: A Novel of Edgar Allan Poe's Life, I am sometimes asked if Poe had a favorite ghost story. Truth be told, Poe was quite clear on his favorite ghost story--or at least his favorite by an American, which I believe is a dig at Charles Dickens and his bias toward British literature. The pick is also, perhaps a dig at Washington Irving whose "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "A Tale of the German Student

Vampires have long captivated the imagination of readers and scholars alike. These enigmatic creatures, often depicted as nocturnal beings who feed on the blood of the living, have roots that stretch deep into folklore and gothic fiction. As someone deeply invested in the study of classic horror and gothic literature, I find it essential to separate fact from fiction. This exploration aims to unveil the truth behind common vampire myths, shedding light on their origins, evolu

One of the earliest English short stories to explore the concept of an out of body experience appears in A Singular Passage in the Life of the Late Henry Harris D.D. This tale, published in 1831 in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, stands out as a pioneering work in early horror fiction. Written by Richard Harris Barham, the story offers a fascinating glimpse into supernatural themes long before they became common in literature. The Historical Context of Early Horror Stories Du

Edgar Allan Poe is widely celebrated for his mastery of gothic and horror fiction, but his contributions as a literary critic are equally significant. His critical essays reveal a sharp intellect and a deep understanding of literature that shaped not only his own writing but also the broader landscape of American letters. In this post, I will explore Poe's approach to literary criticism, his key essays, and the lasting impact of his work on the study of literature. Understand

Captain America: First Avenger shows the superhero waking up after being frozen in Arctic ice for 70 years. This iconic moment feels like a modern sci-fi marvel, but it actually has roots stretching back to the 19th century. The idea of suspending life through freezing and then reviving it is not new. It appears in early science fiction, including a short story from 1845 called Hilda Silfverling by Lydia Maria Child. This story explores the concept of cryptopreservation long

The story of Peter Rugg, the missing man, has intrigued readers and scholars of gothic and horror fiction for nearly two centuries. This enigmatic figure, eternally wandering the roads of New England, embodies themes of loss, punishment, and the supernatural. In this post, I will explore the origins, interpretations, and lasting impact of the Peter Rugg legend, offering a detailed peter rugg analysis that sheds light on its significance within the broader context of 19th-cent

The world of horror fiction has long fascinated readers with its eerie atmospheres, chilling narratives, and profound explorations of human fears. For those who appreciate classic gothic and horror literature, the availability of free online horror story archives offers an invaluable resource. These archives provide access to a wealth of forgotten 19th-century horror tales and the works of iconic authors like Edgar Allan Poe. In this post, I will guide you through some of the

What was the first vampire short story set in France? In the English language it appears to be "Pepopukin in Corsica," published in 1826. It was in a British rag of an anthology called The Stanley Tales. The author was attributed as A.Y. and in The Best Vampire Stories anthology I edited, I give reasons why I think the author was Arthur Young who was an English writer that travelled extensively in France. He died in 1820, so it had to be published posthumously. "Pepopukin in

First American Vampire Short Story There is a fine commentary on "The Black Vampyre" short story over at the Taliesin scary vampire blog: http://taliesinttlg.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/interesting-shorts-black-vampyre-legend.html that I included in my Best Vampire Stories anthology from 1800-1849. https://andrewbarger.com/best-vampire-short-stories-1800-1849 I liked it so much I left a comment. Check it out. #vampires

In 1848 Alexandre Dumas published "The Vampire of Carpathian Mountains" (also called "The Pale Lady") in his French short story collection One Thousand and One Ghosts. It is a fantastic book that contains some of the best supernatural tales Dumas ever penned. If you have at least a reading knowledge of the French language, it is well worth the effort of flagging it down on Gutenberg.org or some other site. Of course if your French needs a bit of a refresher from high school,

Henri Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893) Frenchman, Henri Guy de Maupassant, is best known today for his short stories. He penned over 300 of them and they range from the romantic to the supernatural, though most the latter were merely fictions of the protagonists' minds. Was It a Dream? is Maupassant's best ghost short story given its longing writing style and graveyard setting. The scary story is gothic and haunting and written in the shadow of Poe as it involves the longing for

The routine and regimented ways in which to write a T. S. Eliot poem in 10 easy steps are as follows, ahem: 1. Come upon a cute turn of phrase, 2. Pen a rambunctious title loosely related to said turn of phrase, 3. Thumb the pages of Dante and pluck out an epigraph (preferably in the original Italian), 4. Insert said epigraph beneath said title, 5. Write slapdash quatrains, 6. Insert said turn of phrase at a random place in said quatrains, 7. Run the occasional line of said q

One of the first plant horror stories was ushered into the world not by Edgar Allan Poe or Arthur Machen or H. G. Wells, but rather from a relatively unknown horror writer by the name of Fred White. "The Purple Terror" was published by the august English magazine The Strand Magazine in 1898. The editors were unafraid to publish supernatural fiction. Some of its published authors included H. G. Wells, Elizabeth Nesbit and Rudyard Kipling. Then, or course, The Strand Magazine e

The enduring appeal of The Hound of the Baskervilles lies not only in its thrilling detective narrative but also in its rich gothic atmosphere. This novel, penned by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, masterfully blends mystery with elements of horror and the supernatural, creating a story that has captivated readers for over a century. In this post, I will explore the gothic dimensions of the Baskervilles tale, unpack its narrative structure, and examine why it remains a cornerstone of

Sometimes a Great Notion is an anti-union manifesto, a work of flowing literature that should be studied in the cloistering halls of higher learning--not as much for its deep meaning, but rather for the structure of its text (I dare a professor to take any one of the 600+ pages and study it for an entire semester), a masterpiece of prose, the second novel by The Great Ken Kesey, a juxtaposition of two brothers that has been unequalled since Tolstoy. Sometimes a Great Notion i

Henri Guy de Maupassant’s short story Was it a Dream? invites readers into a world where reality and imagination blur, leaving us questioning what is real and what is illusion. This ghost story, written in the late 19th century, explores themes of fear, memory, and the supernatural with a subtle yet chilling touch. It challenges the reader to consider how the mind processes trauma and the unknown, making it a timeless piece that continues to captivate. Frenchman, Henri Guy de

Few writers have shaped the horror genre as profoundly as Montague Rhodes James. Known primarily for his ghost stories, M R James transformed supernatural fiction with a unique blend of subtlety, atmosphere, and scholarly detail. His influence extends far beyond his own era, impacting how horror is written and experienced today. This post explores how M R James redefined horror, examining his storytelling techniques, themes, and lasting legacy. M R James' atmospheric settings

Washington Irving (1783-1859) is best known for his headless horseman story: “The Legend of Sleepy Hallow." It is still widely read some 200 years after its publication. His second best ghost short story was the Adventure of the German Student. Both were published in my anthology of The Best Ghost Short Stories 1800-1849. https://www.andrewbarger.com/best-ghost-stories-1800-1849 Another ghost story by Irving is quite good: “Guests from Gibbet Island.” Gibbet is an antiquated

For lovers of ghost stories, let us all tip our top hats to Charles Dickens, the author of “A Christmas Carol.” He was so fixated on ghost stories that he wrote nearly twenty of them among his short stories and novels. His “No. 1 Branch Line, The Signal Man” of 1866 rises to the level of the Top Ten stories found in Best Ghost Short Stories 1850-1899: A Phantasmal Ghost Anthology. Dickens and His Influence on Ghost Stories As if his many ghost stories weren’t enough for the g

If most people were asked what is Poe's most gothic poem, they would pick "The Raven." Those same people would be surprised to learn that "The Raven" is not even in the Top 3 of Poe's most gothic poems. Here are his most haunting poems in order: The Sleeper, Broadway Journal 1845 AT midnight, in the month of June, I stand beneath the mystic moon. An opiate vapour, dewy, dim, Exhales from out her golden rim, And, softly dripping, drop by drop, Upon the quiet mountain top, Stea