Classic Gothic

Picture of Dorian Gray

HarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics. 'How sad it is! I shall grow old, and horrid, and dreadful. But this picture will remain always young… If it was only the other way!' Wilde's first and only published novel recounts the story of handsome Dorian Gray who upon having his portrait painted desires that it will age and grow ugly while he may remain eternally beautiful. The painting, which reflects each of Gray's sins and transgressions in its hideousness, haunts him until it finally becomes unbearable. In this dark tale of duplicity and mortality, Wilde creates a world where art and reality collide.

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Oscar Wilde

R 98.00
Haunting of Hill House

The best-known of Shirley Jackson's novels and a major inspiration for writers like Neil Gaiman and Stephen King as well as the hit Netflix series, The Haunting of Hill House is a chilling story of the power of fear'Shirley Jackson's stories are among the most terrifying ever written' Donna TarttAlone in the world, Eleanor is delighted to take up Dr Montague's invitation to spend a summer in the mysterious Hill House. Joining them are Theodora, an artistic 'sensitive', and Luke, heir to the house. But what begins as a light-hearted experiment is swiftly proven to be a trip into their darkest nightmares, and an investigation that one of their number may not survive. Twice filmed as The Haunting, and the inspiration for a 10-part Netflix series, The Haunting of Hill House is a powerful work of slow-burning psychological horror.'An amazing writer ... If you haven't read her you have missed out on something marvellous' Neil Gaiman 'As nearly perfect a haunted-house tale as I have ever read' Stephen King'The world of Shirley Jackson is eerie and unforgettable' A. M. Homes 'Shirley Jackson is one of those highly idiosyncratic, inimitable writers...whose work exerts an enduring spell' Joyce Carol Oates

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Shirley Jackson

R 285.00
Frankenstein

HarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics. ‘The rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open…’ Victor Frankenstein’s monster is stitched together from the limbs of the dead, taken from ‘the dissecting room and the slaughter-house’. The result is a grotesque being who, rejected by his maker and starved of human companionship, sets out on a journey to seek his revenge. In the most famous gothic horror story ever told, Shelley confronts the limitations of science, the nature of human cruelty and the pathway to forgiveness. Begun when Mary Shelley was only eighteen years old and published two years later, this chilling tale of a young scientist’s desire to create life – and the consequences of that creation – still resonate today.

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Mary Shelley

R 98.00
Dracula

This edition of Dracula Bram Stoker provides depth and context for A Level students, with the complete novel in an easy to read format, and a detailed introduction and bespoke glossary written by an experienced A Level teacher with academic expertise in the area. · Affordable high quality complete text of Bram Stoker’s Dracula· Perfectly pitched introductions provide the depth and demand required by AS and A Level English· Explore the contemporary context, Bram Stoker’s writing, the novel’s critical reception and subsequent interpretations for a deeper reading of the text· Expand your further reading with a list of key articles and critical and theoretical texts· Improve your understanding of the novel with unfamiliar concepts and culturally-specific terms defined in the glossary

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Bram Stoker, Collins GCSE, Maria Cairney

R 93.00
Fall of the House of Usher

The 100th title in the much-loved Penguin Clothbound Classics series: a selection of stories, poetry and other writings from the master of Gothic horror, Edgar Allan Poe. This volume demonstrates the astonishing power and imagination with which Poe probed the darkest corners of the human mind. 'The Fall of the House of Usher' describes the final hours of a family tormented by tragedy and the legacy of the past. In 'The Tell-Tale Heart', a murderer's insane delusions threaten to betray him, while stories such as 'The Pit and the Pendulum' and 'The Cask of Amontillado' explore extreme states of decadence, fear and hate. This volume also includes the classic 'The Raven', among other poems and essays.This is the 100th volume in the Penguin Clothbound Classics series, designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith. These delectable and collectible editions are bound in high-quality, colourful, tactile cloth with foil stamped into the design, and this edition also includes special endpapers.Edited and with an introduction by the novelist, curator and academic David Galloway. 'The most original genius that America has produced'Alfred, Lord Tennyson'Poe has entered our popular consciousness as no other American writer'The New York Times Book Review

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Edgar Allan Poe

R 520.00
Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Other Stories

One of Stevenson's most famous and enduringly popular works, the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde describes the mysterious relationship between a respectable and affable doctor and his brutal associate. Set in the grimy streets of Victorian London, this tale of murder, split personality and obscure science, with its chilling final revelation, became an instant horror classic when it was first published in 1886, and has enthralled and terrified generations of readers ever since.This volume also contains seven other Gothic stories by Stevenson - such as 'The Body Snatchers', 'Markheim' and 'Olalla' - showcasing the author's mastery of the horror genre and his interest in both the otherworldly and the strange ways the human brain can distort reality.

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Robert Louis Stevenson

R 225.00

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Funny and Relatable

Hilarious! 😂 Marian Keyes' Grown Ups had me laughing out loud, and I loved seeing bits of myself in the diverse cast. The family tree at the start is a genius move, which is super helpful for keeping track of who's who! My one gripe is some storylines felt a bit... open-ended. Still, totally recommend for a laugh-out-loud, relatable read.

This is a book that I keep going back to!

One thing we can all agree on, is that the past two and a half years have not been a walk in the park. Not for most of us. Like a meme I saw on social media the other day which stated, “I am a little tired of living through historic events”. Another thing that we can also be sure of, is that this will be our way of life for goodness knows how long. I’d also like to believe that we are more aware of our mental health, more than we’ve ever been. And one thing we do know is that it is a precious commodity.

After hearing about the sensation that is Dr Julie Smith, I simply had to get my hands on her book, “Why has Nobody Told Me This Before”?

So, a bit of background information. Dr Smith is a clinical psychologist on a mission. Her goal is to make the life skills and copy skills we need on a daily basis, while dealing with mental health issues, as well as just ‘real life’ struggles, more accessible and digestible. She started her YouTube channel at the end of 2019, offering short ‘lessons’ and practical tips as how to deal with anxiety, stress, grief, etc. When the global pandemic hit in early 2020, her sensible and meaningful clips on social media were much needed and devoured by her followers world-wide.

Getting back to the book, this is exactly what you can expect. No complicated terminology and diagnoses, just informal, informative guidance and tools to help you cope.

It is not necessarily a ‘read from cover to cover’ book (but you can if you are so inclined), but you can dip in and out for pearls of wisdom and tried-and-proven advice as you see fit. The book is divided in the following chapters (I am highlighting just a some of the details covered):

On Dark Places (including low mood, mood pitfalls to watch out for, how to turn bad days into better days)

On Motivation (including How do you make yourself do something when you really don’t feel like it?)

On Emotional Pain (including Make it all go away! How to support someone)

On Grief (including Understanding Grief, The tasks of mourning)

On Self-Doubt (You are not your mistakes, Being enough)

On Fear (Things we do that makes anxiety worse, What to do with anxious thoughts)

On Stress (Is stress different from anxiety? Making stress work for you)

On a Meaningful Life (Working out what matters, How to create a life with meaning)

You will also find practical tools, ideas to try, etc within each topic.

This is a book that I keep going back to, and on a personal level, the chapters on ‘self-doubt’ and ‘fear’ will probably be dog-eared soon. It also makes a wonderful gift!

A beautifully crafted debut

The Correspondent is a thoughtful and quietly powerful novel told entirely through letters and emails. At its centre is Sybil, a woman in her seventies whose life unfolds through the correspondence she sends to family, friends and the occasional public figure. The format gives the story a sense of closeness, allowing the reader to see her humour, her frustrations and the private worries she rarely voices aloud.

Sybil is a wonderfully complex character. She can be sharp, funny, stubborn and unexpectedly vulnerable, often within the same letter. Through her writing the novel explores ageing, grief, adoption, strained family relationships and the long‑term consequences of choices made decades earlier. There is also a subtle thread of tension linked to her past work in the courts, which adds another layer without overshadowing the emotional core.

The number of characters can feel a little overwhelming at first, but once the rhythm settles the structure becomes one of the book’s strengths. Each exchange reveals something new about Sybil and the people who have shaped her life. The writing is warm, observant and full of small insights.

A beautifully crafted debut that will appeal to readers who enjoy reflective, character‑driven stories.

Worth reading if you enjoy stories that blend philosophy with emotional introspection!

Re‑reading Veronika Decides to Die after so many years turned out to be a very different experience for me. I remembered it as dark and philosophical, but this time I found it far less bleak than the title suggests. It is thought provoking, occasionally uncomfortable, and definitely dated in its approach to mental health, yet still full of those signature Coelho moments that make you pause and reflect.

The story follows Veronika, a young woman in Slovenia who attempts to end her life and wakes up in Villete, a mental institution, where she is told she has only days left to live. Through her interactions with other patients, including Mari with severe anxiety and Eduard who lives with schizophrenia, Coelho explores what it means to be “sane” and how society often punishes anyone who does not fit the mould.

Some of these characters struck me more deeply this time around. There were moments that made me uncomfortable, especially the twist involving the doctor, and I wished the ending had been more layered. Still, the final quarter of the book landed beautifully. The writing is fluid, the themes are bold, and the message about appreciating life is powerful.

Not my favourite Coelho, but definitely worth reading if you enjoy stories that blend philosophy with emotional introspection.

Stephen King's masterpiece?

I finally picked up The Stand again and I completely understand why so many readers call this King’s masterpiece.

For a book written in the late 1970s, it feels shockingly current. The “superflu” premise hits differently after the past few years, and King’s exploration of what happens when 99.4% of humanity is wiped out is both fascinating and unsettling. The sociological and moral questions were some of the most interesting parts for me.

But it’s the characters that truly make this book unforgettable. Stu, Frannie, Nick, Larry, Glen, Tom, Kojak, Lloyd, Trashcan Man… they’re still living rent free in my head. King gives each of them such depth and humanity that closing the book felt like saying goodbye to people I’d travelled with for months. Even the villains are complicated in ways that make them strangely relatable.

Despite its intimidating length, I never found it slow or dull. Almost every chapter feels purposeful, and the atmosphere (cosy one moment, deeply unsettling the next) kept me hooked. There’s always that sense of something lurking just out of sight.

If you enjoy post-apocalyptic fiction, character driven epics, or stories that dig into the messy nature of good and evil, this is absolutely worth the journey.

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Picture of Dorian Gray

Haunting of Hill House

Frankenstein

Dracula

Fall of the House of Usher

Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Other Stories

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