Meet the women writers who defied convention to craft some of literature's strangest tales in horror, Gothic fiction, and speculative literature, from Frankenstein to The Haunting of Hill House and beyond.

From Mary Shelley's Frankenstein to Shirley Jackson's psychological masterpieces, women have been shaping horror, Gothic fiction, ghost stories, and speculative literature for centuries. Yet many of the genre's most influential voices remain overlooked. This indispensable reading guide uncovers their remarkable stories, revealing how generations of groundbreaking women transformed horror into one of literature's most enduring genres.

Blending engaging biography, literary history, cultural commentary, and expertly curated reading lists, Lisa Kröger and Melanie R. Anderson introduce readers to the pioneering writers whose work continues to influence today's horror and speculative fiction. Alongside literary icons like Ann Radcliffe, Daphne du Maurier, Anne Rice, Shirley Jackson, and V. C. Andrews, readers will discover forgotten innovators whose unforgettable stories deserve a place on every horror bookshelf.

Celebrate the creators behind horror's greatest traditions and experience the genre through an entirely new perspective.