Haunted Castles

As part of the newly launched six-volume series highlighting the finest in classic horror, curated by Academy Award-winning director Guillermo del Toro, "Haunted Castles" stands out as a captivating addition.

Guillermo del Toro, a devoted enthusiast of horror literature, carefully handpicked a selection of classic tales and poems by the genre's maestros for the Penguin Horror series. The anthology features a diverse range of works, including Mary Shelley’s "Frankenstein," Ray Russell’s acclaimed short story “Sardonicus” (hailed by Stephen King as "perhaps the finest example of the modern Gothic ever written"), Shirley Jackson’s "The Haunting of Hill House," and contributions from Ray Bradbury, Joyce Carol Oates, Ted Klein, and Robert E. Howard. This series, adorned with original cover art by Penguin Art Director Paul Buckley, presents deluxe hardcovers that promise to enthrall horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and paranormal enthusiasts.

In "Haunted Castles," readers are immersed in the definitive and complete collection of Ray Russell’s Gothic horror stories. The anthology includes the renowned novella trio of "Sardonicus," “Sanguinarius,” and ”Sagittarius.” Russell's characters are deeply unsettling, featuring a heartless monster holding lovers in limbo, a beautiful woman descending into depravity guided by an evil gypsy, and a man compelled to bear the consequences of his crimes through a haunting smile etched on his face. With engrossing, grotesque, and entrancing narratives, Russell’s Gothic tales redefine the essence of dread in the best possible way.