‘We need ghost stories because we, in fact, are the ghosts…’
Stephen King is, of course, the master of horror. I have written extensively in the past about both his works of horror fiction and the subsequent film and TV adaptations that have followed. Whilst King is not known for his non-fiction writing, his ode to storytelling On Writing is actually one of his most enjoyable works. Danse Macabre is King’s other non-fiction work, and while it’s not as beautifully crafted as On Writing, it’s still a must read for any horror aficionados.
Published in 1981, Danse Macabre is King’s attempt to dissect the horror genre in all of its forms in order to examine what makes it so damn popular. Far from being limited to literature, King examines movies, tv shows and radio broadcasts in order to craft a, sort of, bible for horror lovers. I can guarantee no matter how well read you think you are, any horror fan will come away from Danse Macabre with a laundry list of recommendations across various formats.
King is essentially a horror nerd, a description that I am sure he would be happy to embrace himself, and this undiluted enthusiasm for the subject really shines through here. He is knowledgeable and passionate and pulls no punches on any work that he feels doesn’t do justice to the genre that he loves (he is surprisingly critical of The Exorcist, for example). Crucially, Danse Macabre never reads like a university thesis. King holds the reader’s hand every step of the way, something that is particularly important considering many of the films and works of literature that he cites have fallen out of favour in recent years.
For anyone not already obsessed with horror, Danse Macabre will probably be hard work, but for fans of both King and the of the genre, it is a fascinating glimpse into a life spent in the dark recesses of the soul.