FRANKENSTEIN: the HORROR story ORIGINAL - Eleanor Bourg Nicholson

Horror fiction is having a powerful resurgence. In recent years, stories of ghosts, monsters, and things that go bump in the night have surged in popularity, with sales rising by an astonishing 54% between 2022 and 2023. But why are we so drawn to this genre, especially now? Is it just the thrill of a scare, or is there something deeper going on beneath the surface? To unravel this mystery, let’s dive into the fascinating history of horror fiction and what continues to make it resonate so fiercely with readers of all ages.

Why Horror is More Popular Than Ever

There’s a reason readers are devouring horror like never before. Our world is unpredictable—filled with uncertainties and anxieties both big and small. In horror fiction, we find a safe place to confront our fears, process them, and maybe even laugh at them. Stories about monsters and the supernatural allow us to explore the darker sides of human experience while remaining safely curled up with a book. Elellanar Borg Nicholson, horror novelist, editor, educator, and homeschooling mother of six, embodies this dynamic—writing by day, haunting her fiction by night. When asked what drew her to horror, she credits a lifelong love of literature and a turning point in her late teens after finally reading Dracula—a chaotic novel she found utterly fascinating.

The Ancient Roots of Horror

The seeds of horror fiction go back much further than Dracula or Frankenstein. Our ancestors have always spun tales to explain the unexplained, chalk up odd noises, and give shape to their deepest fears. Ancient myths are rich with monsters designed to keep sailors wary and children obedient. What began as oral traditions evolved into written legends, each one poking at humanity’s fear of the unknown. This urge to tell scary stories—to pass along cautionary tales or reflect on the mysteries of existence—has existed for millennia, rooted in our drive to make sense of a chaotic world.

The Gothic Revival: Enlightenment’s Shadow

Horror’s first golden age began as a backlash to the Age of Enlightenment, when rational thought pushed the supernatural aside. The era of Gothic literature—kicked off by works like Horace Walpole’s "The Castle of Otranto"—reacted to this intellectual climate by placing the irrational, the strange, and the uncanny front and center. Gothic novels reveled in what was repressed by rationalism, creating worlds where monsters lurked just beyond the boundaries of polite society. England, in particular, became the beating heart of the genre, in part because its intellectuals were so steeped in skepticism that it made it a perfect breeding ground for the imagination’s wildest terrors.

The Popularity (and Peril) of Early Horror

At the turn of the 19th century, Gothic horror was a cultural phenomenon—so much so that it became the subject of satire. Jane Austen’s "Northanger Abbey" lampoons the craze, reflecting contemporary anxieties that too much horror could corrupt impressionable minds, especially young women. While some novels in this era, like Matthew Lewis’s infamous "The Monk," were shockingly scandalous, others—such as Victor Hugo’s "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" or Mary Shelley’s "Frankenstein"—became keystones of world literature. Through horror, writers could probe profound questions about morality, existence, and the human psyche—subjects too odd or weighty for drawing-room comedies.

Frankenstein: The Horror Classic That Changed Everything

"Frankenstein" stands as a monumental achievement—not just in horror, but in literature as a whole. Born from a friendly ghost story competition by Lake Geneva between Mary Shelley, Percy Shelley, Lord Byron, and others, the novel drew upon Shelley’s highly unconventional upbringing, personal loss, and the turbulent relationships that shaped her young adulthood. The result is a story that wrestles with creation, alienation, and what it means to be human or monstrous.

Frankenstein’s impact is so profound that its DNA is detectable in nearly every horror story that followed. Not only did it set the parameters for the genre, but it also proved that horror could tackle existential themes with philosophical depth. Its cultural legacy remains alive, far outstripping even the most loyal film adaptations.

From Poe to Modern Nightmares: Horror’s Expanding Frontier

The genre’s next great innovator, Edgar Allan Poe, expanded horror’s emotional and intellectual range by weaving together gothic terror, mystery, and sensation. While Poe’s stories draw much from English and European traditions, his American outlook—shadowed by puritanical roots and a penchant for philosophical experimentation—helped horror fiction take root and flourish on both sides of the Atlantic. American horror writers like Nathaniel Hawthorne similarly played with themes of sin, guilt, and the supernatural, often blurring the lines between external and internal fears.

Horror's Enduring Appeal: Mirrors, Monsters, and Meaning

What makes horror so enduring? Elellanar Nicholson suggests it’s not just about scares, but about personal reflection—the “funhouse mirror” effect. When we recoil from fictional monsters, we can’t help but recognize our own capacity for darkness. In masterpieces like "Frankenstein," the line between creator and creature, good and evil, is blurred, inviting us to question who the real monster is. Horror fiction gives us permission to confront these uncomfortable truths in a safe, mediated space. And for authors, humor and self-awareness can serve as a protective charm, keeping madness at bay even as they flirt with the abyss.

Conclusion: Facing Our Fears—Together

Horror fiction continues to thrive because it satisfies something intrinsic in us all—the need to grapple with life’s mysteries, wrestle our fears, and connect with stories that reflect the deepest parts of ourselves. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or new to the genre, horror offers an ever-expanding universe of tales that both terrify and enlighten, amuse and provoke. So next time you feel a shiver down your spine while reading, remember: you’re participating in a timeless conversation, one as old as storytelling itself.

Whether you want to explore more from authors like Elellanar Borg Nicholson or learn about the strange histories that continue to haunt humanity, horror fiction offers an open invitation. Turn the page—if you dare—and discover what lies just beneath the surface.

📕 Guest: Eleanor Bourg Nicholson

Eleanor Bourg Nicholson is a Virginia-based author and educator known for her Gothic novels—including The Letters of Magdalen Montague, A Bloody Habit, and Brother Wolf. She also wrote the children’s biography The Hound of the Lord. A Lay Dominican, Eleanor is assistant editor for the Saint Austin Review and a Victorian literature instructor at Homeschool Connections. She homeschools her children and is famously wary of scary stories herself.

🌍 Website: https://eleanorbourgnicholson.com/

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📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ebnicholson/