2007-03-05 02:35:00 · 10 answers · asked by vikat p 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Horror fiction goes back to the 1700's with the works of Horace Walpole (The Castle of Otranto) and Anne Radcliffe (The Mysteries of Udolpho). These were both written in the mid-late 1700's. Mary Shelly wrote Frankenstein in 1818. Edgar Allen Poe was a master of the genre and wrote in the early-mid 1800's, followed by another acknowledged master, HP Lovecraft, in the late 1800's-early 1900's.
2007-03-05 02:54:45 · answer #1 · answered by bugged to death 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Although Poe did not originate the horror genre he was an early writer in the Short Story genre which was uncommon at the time. I don't know too much about the history of publishing in the US but I do know that there were not too many short stories in the UK until the end of the C19th as it was more profitable to publish long expensive books, rather than short cheap ones (thats why Victorian novels are usually massive.) The Gothic Novel was however incredibly popular from the C18th onwards. People have always liked scary stories and tehy have been around for a long time so no- one can really be said to be the originator of them but Poe was definatly a master.
2007-03-05 06:25:47 · answer #2 · answered by hdickinson68 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Edgar Allen Poe. He is the greatest short story horror writer around. He is considered the originator of horror shorts. So yes Edgar Allen Poe. He created the Raven, Pit and the Pendulum and more.
2007-03-05 02:48:30 · answer #3 · answered by Jorge's Wife 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Edgar Allen Poe
2007-03-05 02:41:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd guess Edgar Allen Poe, but I'm only 85% sure. I know Mary Shelly came before him, but that was a novel. I don't think there was too much other horror fiction out before him.
2007-03-05 02:40:52 · answer #5 · answered by wayfaroutthere 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there is no single person who is credited with the first scary story... stories to frighten people have been told around campfires since we evolved enough to tell them...
as said above me, Edger Allen Poe is credited with being one of the most famous horror authors in the past, other wise, there is no official originator, just like there is no answer to many questions... like what's on the other side of a black hole
2007-03-05 03:14:30 · answer #6 · answered by ichigo_li2 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd say Edgar Allen Poe, but that's just an opinion. I don't know if there is an "authoritative" originator of the genre.
2007-03-05 02:41:38 · answer #7 · answered by gryffindorgrad91 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If anyone deserves that title, it has to be Edgar Allan Poe.
(Although there were earilier writers of horror novels, you said 'short stories'.)
2007-03-05 03:17:01 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Though Mary Shelley did write Frankenstein long before Poe. You might be interested in the gotihic novel which can see it roots in the 1790's and i have referenced.
2007-03-05 02:53:21 · answer #9 · answered by Dan Brown 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I say Edgar Allan Poe....never more, never more......
2007-03-05 02:42:14 · answer #10 · answered by boricua_chick_21 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋