The Gothic, By Nick Groom

One of Oxford's "Very Short Introductions", Groom's far-seeing survey of Gothic forms and cults packs an abbey-sized portion of ideas into a tomb-sized space.

Unlike most literary Gothicists, Groom looks hard at medieval roots as well as covering the Romantic-era boom in spooky, sexy and uncanny styles, from books to buildings.

He's strong on the renovated Gothic of Twilight-era cinema and music. And he respects the rebel heart of this undead mode, with a tribute to Sophie Lancaster - murdered for dressing as a Goth.