Haunted Castles

A Penguin Classics black spine edition of "perhaps the finest example of the modern Gothic ever written" (Stephen King) with a foreword by acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del ToroHorror legend Ray Russell's haunting and macabre stories, including "perhaps the finest example of the modern Gothic ever written" (Stephen King), with a foreword by acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del ToroHaunted Castlesis the definitive, complete collection of Ray Russell's masterful Gothic horror stories, including the famously terrifying novella trio of "Sardonicus," "Sanguinarius," and "Sagittarius." The characters that sprawl throughHaunted Castlesare frightful to the core- the heartless monster holding two lovers in limbo; the beautiful dame journeying down a damned road toward depravity (with the help of an evil gypsy); the man who must wear his fatal crimes on his face in the form of an awful smile. Engrossing, grotesque, and completely entrancing, Russell's Gothic tales are the best kind of dreadful.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

“"Russell links postpulp literature and the Grand Guignol tradition with the modern sensibilities of America in the 1960s. Within him resides a neo-paganistic streak that is passed from Algernon Blackwood and Sax Rohmer to him and other writers of unusual proclivities, such as Bernard J. Hurwood. A fascinating combination of the liberal and the heretic... Russell is the literary equivalent of the Italian filmmaker Mario Bava, a supersaturated neo-Gothiscist who shines above the premises of his material based on style, conviction, and artistic flair." - Guillermo del Toro, from the introduction Praise for Penguin Horror Classics: "The new Penguin Horror editions, selected by Guillermo del Toro, feature some of the best art-direction (by Paul Buckley) I've seen in a cover in quite some time." Cory Doctorow, Boing Boing "Each cover does a pretty spectacular job of evoking the mood of the title in bold, screenprint-style iconography." Dan Solomon, Fast Company”

Russell links postpulp literature and the Grand Guignol tradition with the modern sensibilities of America in the 1960s . . . [He is] a fascinating combination of the liberal and the heretic. -- Guillermo del Toro
A sleek, compelling tale of diabolical possession that prefigures Ira Levin's Rosemary's Baby The Washington Post
[A] sincere and subtle tale of ultimate evil that feels less dated than many of the works it inspired. The Seattle Times
With gripping clarity and incisive wit, Russell weaves a suspenseful plot that's more of an intellectual thriller than a horror yarn . . . The Case Against Satan retains its harrowing, relevant edge. NPR

Ray Russell (1924-1999) was a pioneer of the modern horror genre. As an editor at Playboy, he helped publish such writers as Ray Bradbury, Kurt Vonnegut, and Charles Beaumont. His best known work, "Sardonicus," was called by Stephen King "perhaps the finest example of the modern Gothic ever written." He received the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1991.Guillermo del Toro(Foreword) is a Mexican director, producer, screenwriter, novelist, and designer. He cofounded the Guadalajara International Film Festival and formed his own production company, Tequila Gang. He is most widely recognized for his Academy Award-winning film, Pan's Labyrinth, and the Hellboy film franchise. He has received Nebula and Hugo awards, was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award, and is an avid collector and student of arcane memorabilia and weird fiction. He is series editor of Penguin Horror.

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