Andrew Barger's Blog

I give this non-fiction book about the brilliant author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and the early day of the hippies, four stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟 In most areas of my life I am organized. That is not the case when it comes to my reading pattern. It is rather chaotic. I'm not one of those people who sit down at the beginning of the year, line up the books I am going to read in a corner of the bookshelf, and start reading them in order. I usually have a general idea of the book

An anthology finalist award winner in the  Next Generation Indie Book Awards  and a  Gothic Readers Book Club Choice Award Winner ,  The Best Horror Short Stories 1800-1849  delivers 12 of the greatest horror stories for the first half of the 19th century. Andrew Barger, author of the award winning  Coffee with Poe: A Novel of Edgar Allan Poe's Life  read over 300 horror short stories to compile the dozen best. At the back of the book he includes a list of all short stories h

There is Truman Capote looking impish and floral as he leans against a trellis of roses somewhere in the Deep South. He is best known for his character-driven novel "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and an embellished non-fiction book, "In Cold Blood." Having liked the former novel, I was excited to read Capote's short stories. The same attention to detail and character generation found in "Breakfast Tiffany's" was evident in the many tales he wrote before its publication. Southern Ac

Few works in classic gothic and horror fiction have captivated readers as profoundly as The Hound of the Baskervilles . This novel, penned by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, stands as a testament to his literary genius and his ability to weave suspense, mystery, and atmosphere into a compelling narrative. As someone deeply fascinated by gothic literature, I find it essential to delve into the elements that make this story enduring and to explore the arthur conan doyle themes that per

Edgar Allan Poe’s A Descent Into the Maelstrom stands out as a remarkable blend of horror and early science fiction. Published in 1841, this short story captures the terror and awe of a man caught in a deadly whirlpool. Poe’s ability to combine vivid natural descriptions with psychological intensity makes this tale unforgettable. It is not just a story of survival but a masterful exploration of human perception and fear. The Story’s Unique Place in Poe’s Work While Poe is of

*****GOTHIC READERS CHOICE AWARD WINNER By Gothic Readers Book Club on January 2, 2014 Although lycanthropy and shapeshifting legends have existed for countless centuries, werewolves are not considered a staple of the Gothic literary tradition. Editor Andrew Barger gives us evidence to the contrary with his collection of the best of the wolf stories from the early modern period. Many of these stories have not been republished in over 150 years. There are more than just ghosts

Ray Bradbury’s stories continue to captivate readers long after his passing. His work remains relevant, offering warnings and reflections that resonate across generations. Two of his most enduring novels, Fahrenheit 451 and Something Wicked This Way Comes , stand as pillars of modern literature. They explore themes of censorship, fear, and the loss of innocence through vivid storytelling and memorable characters. These books are not just stories; they are warnings and celebr

The Art of Victorian Ghost Stories Le Fanu’s ghost stories are not just about scares; they explore the psychological and social tensions of the Victorian Age. His tales like The Familiar , Devereux's Dream , and Madam Crowl's Ghost use haunted houses and restless spirits to reflect deeper anxieties about death, family secrets, and the unknown. These stories often take place in old mansions or rural settings, where the past seems to linger and influence the present. One of hi

In 1847, Blackwood's Magazine published a chilling article titled "Letters on the Truths Contained in Popular Superstitions - Vampyrism." This piece explored the eerie world of supposed real vampires uncovered over the previous century. Among the many stories, the tale of the vampire Arnod stood out, illustrating how deeply the fear of vampyrism had penetrated society. The article also revealed how skeptics were often silenced by terrifying experiences, and it described a di

Horror author and humorist Jerome K. Jerome said in his 1891 introduction to an anthology of Christmas ghost stories “Told After Supper," "Whenever five or six English-speaking people meet round a fire on Christmas Eve, they start telling each other ghost stories." In 1963 Edward Pola and George Wyle wrote the popular Christmas song, "It's the Most Wonderful time of the Year," which told of "Scary ghost stories," that are told at Christmastime. This Victorian tradition should

Edgar Allan Poe is not considered the church-going type. There is a humorous account of Poe attending a service in New York City after taking the train 14 miles from his cottage in Fordham, New York. Poe even told how he thought he would make a good priest. On Christmas Eve 1847, Marie Louise Shew (nurse to Edgar and Virginia prior to her death in January of that year) coaxed Poe into attending a midnight service conducted by Reverend William Augustus Muhlenberg at his prote

Robert Barr: A Pioneer in Horror Fiction ========================================== Robert Barr was a Scottish author whose contributions to literature deserve recognition. As a child, Barr’s parents moved him to Canada. One of his first professional jobs was as a teacher at the Central School of Windsor, Ontario. There, he worked diligently and eventually became the headmaster. After crossing the border into Michigan, he was appointed the news editor of the Detroit Free Pres

As a writer I have been fortunate in that the majority of my reviews are positive. Every now and then I get a negative one. This, in itself, does not bother me. Negative reviews are the price of art. Good art should come from an unfamiliar place and when it does it has the ability to exhilarate and shock the eye of the beholder. Because of this authors who are only getting positive reviews are doing something wrong, as strange as that may sound. Take any great book of literat

Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy has shaped literature and art for centuries, but its influence extends far beyond classical works. This epic poem, with its vivid portrayal of Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven, continues to inspire modern pop culture, especially music. Many artists have drawn from Dante’s themes, characters, and symbolism to create songs that resonate with contemporary audiences. Exploring these songs reveals how The Divine Comedy remains relevant and powerful

In late January of 1846 the death of Virginia Poe was but a year away (January 30, 1847) and Frances Osgood was four months pregnant with Fanny Fay Osgood. As Virginia’s health continued its downward spiral, one can imagine the rumors “A Valentine” brought when recited at the home of Anne Lynch on Feb 14, 1846. The poem was written by #EdgarAllanPoe to Frances Osgood. Virtually undetectable at its reading, the poem is an acrostic that spells the full name of Frances Sargent O

Below is a solid list from Robert Smith #TheCure of the songs that he most admires from the 1980s (excluding his own, of course). “Persephone” by #CocteauTwins is the most literary of the bunch. These unrelenting driving forces of the New Wave genre are not to be missed. ABC, “Look of Love” The Associates, “Tell Me It’s Easter on Friday” David Bowie, “Let’s Dance” Kate Bush, “Cloudbursting” Cocteau Twins, “Persephone” Christina, “Things Fall Apart” D.A.F., “Sex Unter Wasser”

Lovecraft is often portrayed as the successor to Poe in the genre of short horror stories, but after reading Lovecraft's stories, I can tell you that he is no Poe. Lovecraft is much less a pioneer than Poe in both character and Gothic atmosphere. Lovecraft gave us the Cthulhu Mythos of cosmic horrors, of ancient horrors lying dormant, of horrors that transcend space and time and dimensions. He holds his rightful place of high esteem in horror literature for this and must be r

On June 5, 2012, the world lost one of its most imaginative storytellers, Ray Bradbury. Yet, Bradbury’s voice continues to echo through the pages of his many short stories and novels, captivating readers across generations. His works are not just stories; they are warnings, celebrations, and explorations of human nature and society. Among his vast collection, two novels stand out as pillars of his legacy: Fahrenheit 451 and Something Wicked This Way Comes . These books remai

Q1. Hi Andrew. Why did you focus on the first half of the 19th century for your first vampire anthology? A1. I knew the first vampire short story written in the English language was "The Vampyre" by John Polidori. He published it in 1819. There was obviously fresh dirt, so to speak, for this period and I started digging. I wanted to start from the beginning just as I did with  The Best Horror Short Stories 1800-1849 , The Best Werewolf Short Stories 1800-1849  and  The Best G

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles stands out as one of the most gripping and atmospheric tales in the Sherlock Holmes series. This novella brings Holmes face to face with what seems like a supernatural force—a monstrous hound said to haunt the moors surrounding an ancient English mansion. While there are no actual ghosts or vampires, the story delivers a chilling dose of horror wrapped in Gothic mystery. It is a perfect blend of suspense, eerie setting,