Opening up the warm body of American Horror – through literature, film, TV, music, video games, and a host of other mediums – this book gathers the leading scholars in the field to dissect the gruesome histories and shocking forms of American life. Through a series of accessible and informed essays, moving from the seventeenth century to the present day, The Cambridge Companion to American Horror explores one of the liveliest and most progressive areas of contemporary culture. From slavery to censorship, from occult forces to monstrous beings, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in America's most terrifying cultural expressions.

‘The Cambridge Companion to American Horror effectively introduces readers to contemporary scholarly conversations within and champions of American Gothic and horror humanities. This collection will suit a variety of audiences, from the most committed to the novice horror fan. It will especially satisfy scholars looking for an accessible gloss of what will undoubtedly continue to be a growing and increasingly nuanced field. I hope that horror scholars will interpret Storey and Shapiro’s gauntlet of transformation as a call for continued interdisciplinary scholarship on American as well as other horror traditions.’

Alex M. Anderson Source: Science Fiction Film and Television