Books: English Gothic by Jonathan Rigby

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of British horror cinema. First published in 2000 and expanded and reprinted in 2006, English Gothic: a century of horror cinema traces the history of the horror film in the UK from its beginnings in the final years of the nineteenth century right up to contemporary films such as Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later and Neil Marshall's Dog Soldiers.

Jonathan Rigby analyses 100 films, including classics such as Dracula (1957), The Innocents (1961), Witchfinder General (1967) and The Wicker Man (1972), but his discussion also refers to many more. In the updated version, Rigby also includes a chapter discussing horror on British television which provides the reader with a wider frame of reference.

This book is packed with details about locations, the histories of leading production companies such as Hammer, Amicus and Tigon, and excellent reviews of the films discussed, about which Rigby is never afraid to give his opinions.

English Gothic is an ideal reference book but also a fascinating and highly informative read.