The Quirky and Wonderful genre of Making Classics into Horror - a booklist
Does anyone remember the specific genre that took over in 2009 and 2010? The one were classics, both real persons and books were rewritten with a supernatural twist? It was one of those crazy frenzies that took over bookshelves and then disappeared. It happened so quickly and was over before another took over with a new super niche genre like dark fairy tale retellings, pale vampires and sulky angels saving people. But this particular genre lingered in my mind. It was something delicious in those years for me when two of my passions collided. My love for classic literature and gory horror.
It all started for me when I saw Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Even though Pride and Prejudice and Zombies came out before, this one was the one I read first. The writer, Seth Grahame-Smith was sort of the Buddha of gory classics and the author that really got this genre published. Yes, there was some movies based on these, but I personally only liked the Pride and Prejudice one.
Read More: 5 Funny Zombie Movies
So without further ado, if you haven’t yet jumped on this train, and you definitely should! Here I have compiled a guide of the different ones found on Audible, so you can listen to. Bear in mind, the links provided, are affiliated links, and if you decide that audible is something you are interested to, I get a small commission from it. The opinions of these particular books though, are definitely my own! So here we go!
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.”
This is sort of what started it all for me, also a book written by Seth Grahame-Smith. I do love Jane Austen and her humor, but sometimes, gosh, I wish something actually happened in these books. Then came this. I think it is hilarious, and well written and a fun listen, check it out!
Summary: As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton - and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she’s soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers - and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield as Elizabeth wages war against hordes of flesh-eating undead. Can she vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry?
if you like this, the continuation of the universe, written by Steve Hockensmith is the next step.
Summary: In prequel, we witness the genesis of the zombie plague in early 19th-century England. We watch Elizabeth Bennet evolve from a naive young teenager into a savage slayer of the undead. We laugh as she begins her first clumsy training with nunchucks and katana swords and cry when her first blush with romance goes tragically awry.
There is also a sequel to the story, Dreadfully Ever After, that is about Mr Darcy being bitten by a zombie on their honeymoon.
Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters
Don’t like Pride and Prejudice? That’s fine, because the publishers thought is was a good idea to publish more of Jane Austens work with a twist. The result was Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monster by Ben H Winters.
Summary: Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters expands the original text of the beloved Jane Austen novel with all-new scenes of giant lobsters, rampaging octopi, two-headed sea serpents, and other biological monstrosities.
As our story opens, the Dashwood sisters are evicted from their childhood home and sent to live on a mysterious island full of savage creatures and dark secrets. While sensible Elinor falls in love with Edward Ferrars, her romantic sister Marianne is courted by both the handsome Willoughby and the hideous man-monster Colonel Brandon. Can the Dashwood sisters triumph over meddlesome matriarchs and unscrupulous rogues to find true love? Or will they fall prey to the tentacles that are forever snapping at their heels?
There are two type of readers. the Wuthering Heights lovers and the Jane Eyre lovers. One can love both, but the rivalry is vicious. I am definitely a team Jane Eyre and was delighted when they turned her into a bad ass slayer of vampires, zombies and werewolf.
Summery: Raised by vampire relatives, Jane grows to resent the lifestyle’s effect on her upbringing. No sunlight, nighttime hours, and a diet of bloody red meat is no way for a mortal girl to live. Things change for Jane when the ghost of her uncle visits her, imparts her parents’ slayer history, and charges her with the responsibility of striking out to find others of her kind and learn the slayer ways.
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