A pioneering study of a neglected popular genre, Creepers uses contemporary literary modes of investigation to trace the historical, formal and aesthetic concerns of a diverse group of horror writers. The classic horror tale, like the classic detective novel, is an area in which British writers have excelled and the horror writers of this century are among our foremost popular writers.

Included in Creepers are critical essays on the vintage works of M.R. James, Dennis Wheatley, C.S Lewis, William Hope Hodgson and Henry James, new insights into James Herbert, Angela Carter and Clive Barker as well as essays on the gothicism of Daphne du Maurier, the imperialist horrors of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the psycho pulps of the 1970’s.

All of the contributors are experts in the area of super-natural literature and combine current research in feminism, cultural studies, psychoanalysis and literary theory with close attention to historical context and textual evidence. This book will appeal equally to serious scholars and horror fans, to students of popular literature and literary history and to those who want a special insight into the dark side of the British.

A volume of original essays on horror and fantasy writing as a genre and one of the few critical guides to the subject. "Creepers" concentrates on the rich and neglected vein of British 20th century horror and fantasy, tracing its influences from 19th century vampire-gothic to Christmas ghost tale and exploring the historical, formal and aesthetic concerns of this diverse group of writers.