Hôtel Littéraire Gustave Flaubert, BW Signature Collection
Top 10 Spooky Reads for Halloween
Dive into the Darkness of Literature !
In the darkness of an ancient convent, silence is broken by unsettling whispers. A hooded figure glides through deserted corridors, where prayers echo like shadows of fear. As in Matthew Gregory Lewis’s The Monk, where temptation, crime, and the supernatural intertwine, horror is a recurring theme in literature, ready to surprise even the most innocent soul. This autumn, let yourself be captivated by classic Halloween reads, where suspense and chills creep into every page. Here is our selection of the 10 must-read horror books, perfect for dark and mysterious evenings.
1. Dracula – Bram Stoker
In the misty lands of Transylvania, Jonathan Harker encounters the sinister Count Dracula, a seductive and terrifying vampire seeking to spread terror in England. Through letters, journals, and reports, follow the pursuit of this master of Victorian horror.
2. Le Horla – Guy de Maupassant
A man believes he is haunted by an invisible presence. Disturbed sleep, weakened will, and creeping madness: the Horla, entity or hallucination, threatens his sanity. A key work of French fantastic literature, perfect for a chilling autumn evening.
3. Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus – Mary Shelley
Victor Frankenstein brings life to a creature assembled from corpses. Rejected and seeking revenge, the creature plunges its creator into a tragic ordeal. A gothic and philosophical novel, blending horror and early science fiction.
4. The Call of Cthulhu – H. P. Lovecraft
Fragmentary manuscripts and reports reveal the existence of a secret cult devoted to Cthulhu, a monstrous entity sleeping beneath the oceans. Horror is cosmic: humanity is nothing against the infinite.
5. The Phantom of the Opera – Gaston Leroux
Beneath the gilded ceilings of the Paris Opera, a masked figure manipulates and terrifies. Passion, mystery, and tragedy intertwine in this Parisian gothic novel, from secret passageways to haunting soprano voices.
6. La Vénus d’Ille – Prosper Mérimée
In Ille, an ancient statue of Venus seems alive. Following a wedding, tragic events occur, and rumor says the Venus is cursed. A classic of French fantastic literature with gripping suspense.
7. Shining – Stephen King
Jack Torrance becomes winter caretaker of the Overlook Hotel. His son Danny, gifted with the “shining,” senses the hotel’s supernatural forces. Isolation and the hotel’s bloody past drive Jack into madness. A masterpiece of modern psychological horror.
8. The Fall of the House of Usher – Edgar Allan Poe
The narrator visits Roderick and Madeline Usher in a decaying mansion. The oppressive atmosphere, illness, and strange phenomena build to a catastrophic ending where house and fate collapse together.
9. The Picture of Dorian Gray – Oscar Wilde
Dorian Gray retains his beauty while his portrait absorbs the corruption of his actions. Amid excess and seduction, he descends into decadence, trapped by his monstrous pact.
10. Perfume – Patrick Süskind
Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, born in the 18th century, possesses a prodigious sense of smell. Obsessed with creating the perfect perfume, he murders to capture the essence of humans. A sensory and terrifying tale, essential for Halloween.
Enjoy the Chills in Comfort
But don’t worry — you can enjoy all these books safely and comfortably in bed at the Hôtel Littéraire Gustave Flaubert, where literature and comfort come together for enchanting autumn evenings.
[photo Stefano Pollio]
