Andrew Barger's Blog

"The Lonely Man of the Ocean" is a fine horror tale of pestilence on the high seas was first published anonymously in Whitaker’s Monthly Magazine for February 1831, and soon thereafter in The Antheneum, or Spirit of the English Magazines, Volume I, covering the period from April to October of the same year, specifically on page 40. The only hint given as to the authorship of “The Lonely Man of the Ocean” comes from The Antheneum, which states that it was “by the author of ‘Th

In a lost 1972 road trip interview, Ray Bradbury told a couple of college journalists his thoughts on like minded friends, never driving a car, and why his science fiction stories were frequently set on Mars. If Bradbury had lived long enough to meet Elon Musk, they would have become close friends. Mars all around! In the first half of the nineteenth century, however, the moon was all the rage for science fiction short stories. Check out "A Visit to the Lunar Sphere" of 1820

Few works of gothic and horror fiction have left as enduring a mark as The Hound of the Baskervilles. This novel, penned by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, continues to captivate readers and scholars alike with its blend of mystery, suspense, and atmospheric storytelling. The Enduring Appeal of Hound of the Baskervilles - A Hound of the Baskervilles Analysis At its core, The Hound of the Baskervilles is a masterclass in suspense and gothic atmosphere. The novel’s setting on the bleak

There was amazing news in the book publishing world during 2015. It seems that every month we learned of another new book by a famous author, which has been discovered and will be published for all the world to read. First we heard about the great J.D. Salinger and his rumored five novels that he wrote for so many decades in obscurity at his modest home in Cornish, New Hampshire. Next, a prequel of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird titled Go Set a Watchman was announced. How

Vampires have long fascinated the human imagination, weaving their way through folklore, literature, and popular culture. These enigmatic creatures, often depicted as undead beings who feed on the blood of the living, have inspired countless stories and superstitions. Yet, beneath the layers of myth and legend lies a complex tapestry of cultural beliefs and historical contexts that shaped these vampire tales. The Origins of Vampire Myths and Legends The concept of vampires is

James Patterson announced in 2015 the sale of his new book that would self-destruct within 24 hours. The details were scant as to how, exactly, it would destroy itself, but the joke remains: "Don't we wish all James Patterson's books would self-destruct?" The real issue here is the permanency of art. How long should it be around? How many times should the public be able to enjoy it before it returns to dust? If a sculptor creates a bronze bust of Edgar Allan Poe, they want th

The first rule of Fight Club is you don’t talk about Fight Club, but I am going to anyway (or at least the novel ). Chuck Palahniuk is the author with the unpronounceable last name who penned the wildly successful “Fight Club.” The book has taken on something of a cult status in dark corners of the reading world, due in large part to the movie of the same name starring Brad Pitt. MY IMPRESSION “Fight Club” is a fistful of fun and an enjoyable read that will punch you in the f

I’ve just spent the last three months reading The Stand Uncut and I want Stephen King to know that I magnanimously forgive him. REASON FOR READING I took up "The Stand" for two reasons. First, I like the stuff King wrote in the 1970s and second, the novel is widely believed to be his best book. SPOILER ALERT The Stand is a pre-apocalyptic novel that quickly becomes an apocalyptic novel, which quickly turns into a post-apocalyptic novel when the world dies off from a very bad

Leo Tolstoy's 5 Greatest Novellas Annotated, which I was fortune enough to edit, is now published in both ebook and print formats. The cover is not too shabby, either. After reading "War & Peace," Fyodor Dostoevsky put the book down and said, "The fool hath said in heart there is no God." Yet, Tolstoy's shorter novels (i.e., novellas) are filled with all the war, adventure, comedy, religion, tragedy, and Russian tradition that inhabit the longer novels of the Russian bear of

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

Unveiling the Origins of Vampire Fiction What was the first vampire short story set in France? In the English language, it appears to be "Pepopukin in Corsica," published in 1826. This story holds a significant place in the history of gothic fiction. "Pepopukin in Corsica" was included in a British anthology titled The Stanley Tales. The author was attributed as A.Y. In my edited anthology, The Best Vampire Stories 1800-1849, I present compelling reasons to believe that the a

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