Horror History Editor: Gaby 
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SONNET TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LADY MARY COKE.
The gentle maid, whose hapless tale
These melancholy pages speak;
Say, gracious lady, shall she fail
To draw the tear adown thy cheek?
No; never was thy pitying breast
Insensible to human woes;
Tender, tho’ firm, it melts distrest
For weaknesses it never knows.
Oh! guard the marvels I relate
Of fell ambition scourg’d by fate,
From reason’s peevish blame.
Blest with thy smile, my dauntless sail
I dare expand to Fancy’s gale,
For sure thy smiles are Fame.
From The Castle of Otranto
BY HORACE WALPOLE. |
What's the actual history of horror?
There's not exactly a specific date but the first story published in the horror genre looks to be:
The Castle of Otranto
BY HORACE WALPOLE.
It was published sometime in the 1500's but is believed to be written sometime in 1000's. I haven't read the story yet but there are mixed reviews on it. Although, I would think that horror is old as time itself. There's just not a lot written down. Not to mention, back in the day, it wasn't exactly accepted, but rather frowned upon, to say the least. Think back to the Salem witch hunts. People weren't quite open-minded to new or different things, let alone something which is impossible to explain.
Outside that realm, the first story/poem most known is the Epic of Gilgamesh, a Mesopotamian epic poem dating to the 3rd millennium BCE. Inscribed by unknown authors on clay tablets, this masterpiece follows a legendary king's quest for immortality and is recognized as the world's first great literary work.
Truthfully, there has to be others but perhaps they weren't quite the hit and therefore are unknown to us. It's hard to believe that the first story or even a poem ever written was such a good one. We all know how tough writing can be, especially something worth reading. Many of us are familiar with the story of Frankenstein even if we haven't read it. But that can't be the first true horror story out there, can it?
Native Indians have passed their stories down though generations but have never written them down and their stories contain all sorts of things. Europe has it's own history of horror throughout the ages but none that are actually noted down.
Is there something to that? Did people truly believe in such evil that if you speak it or write about it, it will come forth? You never know. I mean, how many people speak Bloody Mary's name out loud three times?  It's all fun and games until it's not. Truth be told, there are many things in this world no one can explain even if they tried to. It's not about if people believe it then it must be true, but it's simply there, you just have to look for it.
Do you ever wonder why people started writing things down in the first place? Or drawing pictures on the walls? I'm rather curious as to what your thoughts are!
'Til next time! 
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Horror/Scary: June 24, 2026 Issue [#13810]