Author: DK

Folklore, myths & legends

Published on 2 April 2026 by Dorling Kindersley Ltd (DK) in the United Kingdom as part of 'the Esoteric Histories' series.

Hardback | 320 pages
261 x 216 | 0g

Take a step – if you dare – into the shadows, and discover the blood-curdling history of horror across the world in this gruesomely illustrated title.

A History of Horror, Fear and the Uncanny explores the dark and eerie landscapes of horror down the centuries – from prehistoric death rituals to modern interpretations in art, literature, and film.

In this petrifying book, you will find:A complete global history of the subject – from Gilgamesh, the Underworld, and horror in fairytales to Gothic horror and “creepypasta” talesMore than 350 stunning full-colour images combined with engaging and accessible textProfiles of infamous supernatural creatures – from ghosts and demons to banshees and changelings, and from Grendel to Baba Yaga and the Morrigan to the GolemProfiles of the scariest books and films of all time – from novels by Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker, and Stephen King to movies like The Exorcist, The Shining, and Alien…in a stunning, giftable package with a specially commissioned cover artwork and gorily printed page edges.

Discover how our experience and understanding of fear and terror have evolved through the ages, beginning with the ancient visions of a hellish Underworld. Encounter terrifying figures like Medusa and the Babylonian demon Pazuzu. And tread carefully through the medieval world, where a fear of the unknown stoked apocalyptic terror around the Black Death and gave rise to the danse macabre and the demonology of the Malleus Maleficarum.

Delve into the folklore that gave birth to creatures of the night – from vampires and werewolves to the Japanese Kappa water demon and the cannibalistic Wendigo of Indigenous American lore. Witness the emergence of Gothic literature, with the terrifying and genre-defining works of authors like Mary Shelley, H. P. Lovecraft, and M. R. James. And learn how the 20th century saw a new wave of terror unleashed through Expressionist art, monsters in the movies, “body horror” films, and the “folk horror” revival.

Whether you are a dedicated horror aficionado or simply curious, A History of Horror, Fear and the Uncanny isn’t just for Halloween… It is a thrilling – chilling – journey into the heart of darkness.

The Esoteric Histories seriesWith global sales of more than 300,000 copies, DK’s Esoteric Histories explore the rich traditions of mystical and mysterious subjects – from witchcraft to the world of the unexplained – weaving together religion, mythology, folklore, and the paranormal with art, culture, and science. Other titles in the series include A History of Magic, Witchcraft and the Occult; A History of Ghosts, Spirits and the Supernatural; and A History of Astrology, Divination and Prophecy.