If you enjoy reading books by Mary Shelley then you might also like the following authors:
Bram Stoker is best known for his novel “Dracula”, a story filled with eerie suspense and dark themes. The book follows Jonathan Harker, a young solicitor, who travels to Transylvania to help Count Dracula purchase property in England.
What begins as a business trip quickly turns into a nightmare as Harker discovers the sinister nature of his host. Dracula, a vampire, brings terror to England, preying on the living and spreading fear.
The novel is rich with memorable characters, including Professor Van Helsing, who rallies a group to stop Dracula’s menace. Fans of Mary Shelley’s gothic and haunting style in “Frankenstein” may find a similar thrill here.
Ann Radcliffe is one of the leading figures in Gothic literature. Her novel “The Mysteries of Udolpho” is packed with eerie castles, sinister secrets, and wild landscapes that create an atmosphere of dread and wonder.
The story follows Emily St. Aubert, a young woman who faces loss, danger, and the unknown when she is taken to the mysterious castle of Udolpho by her cruel guardian. With shadowy corridors and unexplained voices in the night, the castle feels alive with menace.
Through it all, Emily’s courage and loyalty to her family push her to uncover the truth behind the horrors surrounding her. Fans of dark and moody tales will find a lot to enjoy.
Robert Louis Stevenson was a Scottish author known for crafting stories filled with adventure and dark themes. One of his most famous works, “Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,” explores the dual nature of humanity.
In the story, Dr. Jekyll, a respected scientist, creates a potion that transforms him into Mr. Hyde, a violent and uncontrollable figure. The novel takes you through the chilling consequences of his experiments, showing how his darker side takes over.
It’s an unsettling tale that dives into the clash between good and evil within a single person. Fans of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” might enjoy the eerie atmosphere and moral questions found here.
Edgar Allan Poe is known for his dark and atmospheric stories that explore themes of madness, death, and the macabre. If you enjoy Mary Shelley’s blend of horror and emotion, you might want to check out Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher.”
This story follows a man visiting a mysterious old mansion owned by his childhood friend, Roderick Usher, who seems trapped in a strange and fragile state. The house itself feels alive with dread, and the tension builds as secrets of the Usher family come to light.
Poe’s ability to weave an intense sense of unease creates a haunting story that lingers long after you finish reading.
Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote stories that explore human nature, morality, and the weight of past sins. His novel “The Scarlet Letter” is set in Puritan New England. It follows Hester Prynne, a woman forced to wear a scarlet “A” on her chest as punishment for adultery.
The book dives into themes of guilt, societal judgment, and the complexities of redemption. Hawthorne’s style is rich with dark symbolism, and his characters face internal struggles that feel haunting and real.
Readers who enjoyed Mary Shelley’s exploration of human imperfection and consequences in “Frankenstein” might find Hawthorne’s work captivating for its emotional depth and moral questions.
Emily Brontë wrote “Wuthering Heights,” a novel filled with stormy relationships and wild settings. The book tells the story of Heathcliff, a boy taken into a wealthy home, and his deeply intense connection with Catherine Earnshaw.
Their bond is fierce, but it’s damaged by betrayal, revenge, and a cycle of cruelty that spans generations. The moors, with their untamed beauty, create a haunting backdrop for the characters’ struggles.
If you enjoy how Mary Shelley’s stories explore darkness and human emotion, this book offers a powerful experience.
Charlotte Brontë was an English novelist who wrote stories filled with strong characters and intense emotions. Her book, “Jane Eyre,” tells the story of an orphaned girl who grows up facing hardship and cruelty but refuses to let her spirit break.
As an adult, she becomes a governess to a brooding and secretive man named Mr. Rochester at his mysterious estate, Thornfield Hall. Strange events happen at the house, hinting at a dark secret.
Jane, always independent and determined, has to confront love, betrayal, and her own beliefs. The gothic atmosphere and emotional struggles in this novel might appeal to fans of Mary Shelley’s work.
Horace Walpole was an English writer who is often credited with creating the gothic novel. His book “The Castle of Otranto” is one of the earliest examples of this genre and set the stage for many stories that came after.
It begins with a strange and sudden death involving a giant helmet, which throws the characters into chaos. The story centers on Manfred, a lord desperate to secure his family’s rule.
Forbidden love, dark secrets, and eerie settings make it feel like stepping into a shadowy, medieval world full of fear and wonder. Fans of Mary Shelley who enjoy gothic tones and supernatural twists might find Walpole’s work interesting.
Victor Hugo was a French author known for stories that explore human emotions, morality, and the struggles of society. One of his most famous works is “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.”
The novel is set in Paris in the late 1400s and centers around Quasimodo, a deformed bell ringer who lives in Notre-Dame Cathedral. His life intertwines with Esmeralda, a kind-hearted gypsy girl.
The story follows themes of love, rejection, and sacrifice against the backdrop of a city filled with both beauty and cruelty. The cathedral itself feels almost alive, as its looming presence shapes the characters’ lives in unexpected ways.
Wilkie Collins was a Victorian author known for his suspenseful and mysterious stories. One of his best-known works, “The Woman in White,” follows Walter Hartright, a drawing teacher, who encounters a strange woman dressed all in white on a deserted road.
This meeting leads him into a tangled web of secrets, deception, and betrayal involving two sisters, a sinister aristocrat, and a mysterious asylum. The atmosphere is dark, and the twists in the story keep you guessing.
Fans of Mary Shelley’s moody and dramatic style might enjoy Collins’ ability to create a sense of unease while unraveling the mystery piece by piece.
Oscar Wilde was an Irish author famous for his sharp wit and rich imagination. His novel, “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” explores themes of vanity, morality, and the consequences of unchecked desires.
The story follows Dorian, a young man whose portrait takes on the marks of his sins while he remains impossibly youthful.
This dark tale begins with an innocent wish, but it soon spirals into something far more sinister, with Dorian’s choices leading him down a path of corruption and decay.
Wilde’s writing can feel atmospheric and gothic, echoing some of the moods and questions found in Mary Shelley’s works.
M. R. James is known for writing atmospheric ghost stories that pull you into eerie, shadowy worlds. His collection, “Ghost Stories of an Antiquary,” is filled with strange and unsettling tales. One standout is “Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad.”
In it, a professor finds an ancient whistle during a seaside trip, which sets off a chain of haunting events. There’s an unforgettable moment involving a bed sheet that feels alive, creating a sense of dread that stays with you.
If you enjoy Mary Shelley’s exploration of the supernatural, James offers a different shade of the macabre.
Henry James was a writer known for his focus on human emotions and the complexities of relationships. One of his books, “The Turn of the Screw,” is a ghost story that keeps readers in suspense.
It follows a young governess who is hired to care for two children in a remote estate. Strange things begin to happen, and she becomes convinced that malevolent spirits are haunting the house.
The tension builds as she tries to protect the children while unraveling what is real and what might be her imagination. The chilling atmosphere and the mysterious characters create a story that lingers in your mind.
H. G. Wells is an author who explored science and human nature in ways that might remind someone of Mary Shelley. One of his most famous books is “The Time Machine.” In this story, a scientist invents a machine that allows him to travel through time.
He ventures far into the future and discovers a world that is split between two strange species. One, the Eloi, live in a state of naive simplicity. But under the surface, a darker force, the Morlocks, lurks. The story raises questions about progress and the future of humanity.
It’s packed with moments that make you wonder what might lie ahead for the world.
Elizabeth Gaskell was a Victorian author known for weaving social issues into her stories.
Her novel “North and South” explores the clash between the industrial north of England and the rural south through the eyes of Margaret Hale, a young woman forced to move to a northern mill town.
While adjusting to her new surroundings, Margaret witnesses the harsh realities of factory life and finds herself at odds with John Thornton, a mill owner and self-made man.
Their fiery exchanges and evolving relationship play out against a backdrop of strike tensions and shifting class dynamics. Gaskell’s attention to the struggles of ordinary people gives the story a sense of depth, with characters who feel strikingly real.
Readers who enjoyed how Mary Shelley blended emotion with societal questions might find Gaskell’s work engaging.