On the Western Front in World War I, a generation faced a horrifying reality that ushered in the modern age. But in the previous century, many of the fears we still face were first given form in the pages of popular fiction. Books such as Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Dracula became modern myths because they gave people a safe way to confront modern fears also taking shape at that time.
By looking at such varied subjects as Victorian architecture, urban crime, women’s rights, and the impact of new technology, we can come to understand the peculiar relationship between horror in literature and the horror of daily life. World War I made it clear that the images of horror in popular fiction had not been an escape from the world around us, but a way of seeing deeper into it, as well as revealing the shape of things to come.

The late Martin Tropp was a professor of English at Babson College, Babson Park, Massachusetts.

Martin Tropp
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 251
Bibliographic Info: photos, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 1999 [1990]
pISBN: 978-0-7864-0754-5
Imprint: McFarland

“convincingly traces the gradual blurring of the line between gothic literary conventions and an increasingly horrific reality”—Choice; “chronicles the way society imitates art”—TAB; “readers…may be astonished at the scope and ambition…an impressive armament of biographical, political, historical, sociological, and textual analyses…. Tropp writes consistently lucid, engaging criticism…many excellent parts…recommend[ed]”—Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Review Annual; “writes clearly”——Neil Barron, Editor of Fantasy and Horror.