Who were the popular authors of 1940s horror novels?

Peter Straub was a popular author during the 80's in the horror genre. His works such as 'Ghost Story' were widely read. Also, Robert R. McCammon had some great horror novels in the 80's. His 'They Thirst' was a well - received horror novel that delved into the vampire horror sub - genre.

M. R. James was also quite well - known. His ghost stories were very popular during the 1920s. His tales were often set in old, English institutions like universities and churches. He had a way of building suspense slowly, and his ghosts were not always the typical, transparent apparitions. For example, in 'Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad', the entity that haunts the protagonist is very menacing and not fully explained, leaving a lot to the reader's imagination.

Stephen King was a very notable author in the 70s horror scene. He wrote 'Carrie' during this time. William Peter Blatty with 'The Exorcist' is also well - known. Ira Levin, the author of 'Rosemary's Baby' is another one. His work was quite influential in the horror genre during the 70s.

Mary Shelley was a famous author of 1800s horror novels. She wrote 'Frankenstein'. Bram Stoker was another, known for 'Dracula'. And Robert Louis Stevenson, who penned 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'.

H. P. Lovecraft was also a key figure. His works like 'The Call of Cthulhu' were filled with unique horror elements. He introduced the concept of cosmic horror, where the horror comes from the vastness and incomprehensibility of the universe. His writing style and themes were quite different from the traditional horror of that time.

Peter Benchley is a well - known author from 1974 with his novel 'Jaws'. He was able to tap into people's primal fear of sharks. Richard Matheson, author of 'Bid Time Return' in 1974, is also a respected figure. His works often blend elements of horror, science fiction, and the human condition.

Geoffrey Chaucer can be considered one of them. His 'The Canterbury Tales' had elements that could be considered horror - like. Another was Marie de France. She wrote some tales with elements of the supernatural and horror that were popular during the medieval era.

There was also Georgette Heyer. She was well - loved for her regency - era romance novels. Her detailed descriptions of the period's society and the romantic relationships within it made her books highly popular in the 50s and still are read today by many romance enthusiasts.

One popular author was Samuel Richardson. His novels like 'Pamela' were quite well - known. 'Pamela' told the story of a young maid and her relationship with her master, exploring themes of love, virtue, and social class.

One popular author was Aphra Behn. She wrote some works that had elements of romance within them.