Ranging across the whole spectrum of horror in popular culture from the seminal classics of Count Dracula and Frankenstein, Stephen King describes his ideas on how horror works on many levels and how he brings it to bear on his own inimitable novels. Told in the chatty, intelligent style of the course for which this was originally devised, this is a charming book replete with pertinent anecdote and observation.
Danse Macabre
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'Absolutely fascinating' (The Sunday Times on On Writing )
'Not since Dickens has a writer had so many readers by the throat...King's imagination is vast....It is part biography...told brilliantly by one of the great storytellers of our time' (Guardian on On Writing )
'A fascinating combination of autobiography and personal voyage through the books and films that have inspired this phenomenally successful author' (Publishing News on On Writing )
'Not since Dickens has a writer had so many readers by the throat...King's imagination is vast....It is part biography...told brilliantly by one of the great storytellers of our time' (Guardian on On Writing )
'A fascinating combination of autobiography and personal voyage through the books and films that have inspired this phenomenally successful author' (Publishing News on On Writing )
About the Author
Stephen King is the bestselling author of more than 30 books, including, most recently, the phenomenal Dark Tower series. His book On Writing received outstanding plaudits and he won America's prestigious National Book Award in 2003. He lives with his wife, the novelist, Tabitha King in Maine.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By Davey Boy
Format:Paperback
This book is King's dissection of the horror genre between the years 1950-80. Do not read this book if you expect it to be a horror novel, it is really an in-depth look at horror books, films, and TV. King does use autobiographical elements to make the book interesting, and most of his views and interpretations are interesting as well. However, it does tend to drag in a few places as he covers the same ground too often. If you are a new horror fan, use this book as a stepping stone to great horror novels. If you are a hardcore horror reader, I recommend this book to you as well, because King's opinions are very interesting.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Really excellent study of the horror genre by S.King, and far better than the slightly patronising On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. He clearly knows his stuff (and cares about it), and has evidently devoured enough films/books to offer a detailed, never dry or dull, context of the field in which he operates so successfully.
This book also works as a sort of 'consumer guide', and will send you off to read masterpieces such as The Haunting of Hill House. If you're curious about the bigger picture of Stephen King's world, and how this sort of fiction WORKS, it's a must-read.
This book also works as a sort of 'consumer guide', and will send you off to read masterpieces such as The Haunting of Hill House. If you're curious about the bigger picture of Stephen King's world, and how this sort of fiction WORKS, it's a must-read.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Jane Aland
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
In this non-fiction book Stephen King examines the horror genre, primarily between the years 1950-1980, although with a quick look at the roots of the genre with Frankenstein, Dracula and Jekyll and Hyde.
King doesnt' really offer any amazing new insights into the genre, but this is a readable enough work, enlivened by odd moments of autobiographical details. Strangely for a writer King focuses as much on movies as novels, though it's interesting to read his various takes on Kubrick's version of 'The Shining' (King maligns it once, then praises Kubrick on other occasions, before indicating the film as a personal favourite in the index!).
The book as a whole can get rather repetetive, as most of it seems to consist of King running through various book/film plots, but at worst this can be seen as a primer for the horror genre, and I suspect most readers will come out of this on the lookout for a handful of books and films that they had not previously experienced.
King doesnt' really offer any amazing new insights into the genre, but this is a readable enough work, enlivened by odd moments of autobiographical details. Strangely for a writer King focuses as much on movies as novels, though it's interesting to read his various takes on Kubrick's version of 'The Shining' (King maligns it once, then praises Kubrick on other occasions, before indicating the film as a personal favourite in the index!).
The book as a whole can get rather repetetive, as most of it seems to consist of King running through various book/film plots, but at worst this can be seen as a primer for the horror genre, and I suspect most readers will come out of this on the lookout for a handful of books and films that they had not previously experienced.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Curious and somewhat disappointing
Considering that King is such a successful author of horror stories, he has some very strange views on horror. Read more
Published 1 month ago by C. Dawson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent!
Good product (as described) and dispatched promptly. All in all, an excellent product and I'm totally satisfied with the purchase.
Published 3 months ago by Richard Anderson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hello Darkness ...
My original copy of Stephen King's Danse Macabre fell apart due to continual re-reading. I read the book cover-to-cover more than once but certain chapters - in particular those on... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Gregory S. Buzwell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Reliable description
Hi, the packaging was good and the book in accettable conditions, as by description. Quick delivery. Now I can start reading! :) Thanks
Published 16 months ago by andreab
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Horror of Life!
Danse Macabre is Stephen Kings study on Horror. He doesn't go that in depth but keeps it an easy read about Horror entertainment. Read more
Published 21 months ago by j.r
4.0 out of 5 stars
What Scares Stephen King?
This book, written using the author's notes from a college course he taught, explores the techniques that horror writers, filmmakers, and television producers use to scare us,... Read more
Published 23 months ago by John M. Ford
5.0 out of 5 stars
King knows what hes talking about
Anyone interested in Horror will 'love' this. It's a thought provoking & insightful book that explores & encapsulates the world of Horror. Read more
Published on 25 July 2007 by Mr. C. M. Owen
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Perfect Introduction To The Horror Genre
Let's face it, who else but Stephen King could take you on an exhaustive horror tour of movies, books, television and radio? Read more
Published on 2 April 2004 by "kingwalker"
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good to help understand how horror really works....
I mistakenly purchased this book believing it to be another piece of horror writing in the same vein as many other great King novels. Read more
Published on 27 Dec 2003 by Steve Fincham
5.0 out of 5 stars
Danse Macabre - Essential Reading
Like ' On Writing' and the introduction to 'Night Shift', 'Danse Macabre' offers some wonderful insight into Steven King's mind. Read more
Published on 3 Feb 2003 by "ncfewer"
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