List of works used in Dark Shadows

Dark Shadows often used classic stories with gothic themes. The series modified this material freely, giving the familiar stories unusual twists. The following is a list of novels, short stories and films that influenced the various storylines and its characters.

Frankenstein (1818)

• Author: Mary Shelley
• Type: Novel
• Genre: Gothic, Horror, Romance, Science Fiction
• Notes: The 'Adam and Eve' storyline.

Ligeia (1838)

• Author: Edgar Allan Poe
• Type: Short Story
• Genre: Gothic, Romance
• Notes: Alexis Stokes is based on the character of Rowena.

The Pit and the Pendulum (1843)

• Author: Edgar Allan Poe
• Type: Short Story
• Genre: Horror
• Notes: Aristede's torture of Quentin Collins; episodes 795-796.

The Cask of Amontillado (1846)

• Author: Edgar Allan Poe
• Type: Short Story
• Genre: Horror
• Notes: The deaths of Reverend Trask and Gregory Trash are based on the death of Fortunato.

Jane Eyre (1847)

• Author: Charlotte Brontë
• Type: Novel
• Genre: Gothic, Horror
• Notes: The following characters are based on
  • Rachel Drummond on Jane Eyre.
  • Gregory Trask on Mr. Brocklehurst.
  • Edward Collins on Edward Rochester.
  • Jenny Collins on Bertha.

Wuthering Heights (1847)

• Author: Emily Brontë
• Type: Novel
• Genre: Gothic
• Notes: The '1841 in Parallel Time' storyline.

The Scarlet Letter (1850)

• Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne
• Type: Novel
• Genre: Romance
• Notes: Hester Prynne

A Tale of Two Cities (1859)

• Author: Charles Dickens
• Type: Novel
• Genre: Social Criticism
• Notes: Danielle Rogét is based on the character of Madame Defarge.

The Return of the Native (1878)

• Author: Thomas Hardy
• Type: Novel
• Genre: Tragedy
• Notes: The '1841 in Parallel Time' storyline.

Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886)

• Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
• Type: Short Story
• Genre: Gothic, Horror
• Notes: Cyrus Longworth's experiment that turned himself into John Yaeger during the first half of the '1970 in Parallel Time' storyline. Buffie Harrington is based on the character of Ivy Pearson. Horace Gladstone is based on the character of Dr. Hastie Lanyon

She (1887)

• Author: Henry Rider Haggard
• Type: Novel
• Genre: Gothic, Romance, Fantasy
• Notes: The 'Phoenix' storyline, in 1966 and in 1897.

The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890)

• Author: Oscar Wilde
• Type: Novel
• Genre: Gothic
• Notes: Angelique's portrait during the 'Adam and Eve' stroyline. The cure to prevent Quentin Collins from becoming a Werewolf during the '1897' storyline and the reason for his subsequent immortality. Charles Delaware Tate was based on the character of Basil Hallward. Amanda Harris is based on the character of Sibyl Vane.

Dracula (1897)

• Author: Bram Stoker
• Type: Novel
• Genre: Gothic, Horror
• Notes: The introduction of vampire Barnabas Collins to the series.

The Turn of the Screw (1898)

• Author: Henry James
• Type: Novel
• Genre: Gothic
• Notes: Quentin Collins is based on the character of Peter Quint. Beth Chavez is based on the character of Miss Jessel Quentin's haunting of Collinwood. The 'Gerard Stiles' storyline.

The Monkey's Paw (1902)

• Author: W. W. Jacobs
• Type: Short Story
• Genre: Horror
• Notes: The 'Hand of Petofi' storyline.

The Call of Cthulhu (1928)

• Author: H. P. Lovecraft
• Type: Short Story
• Genre: Horror, Science Fiction
• Notes: The 'Leviathan' storyline.

The Werewolf of Paris (1933)

• Author: Guy Endore
• Type: Novel
• Genre: Horror
• Notes: Chris Jenning's and Quentin Collins' lycanthropy.

Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

• Author: William Hurlbut
• Type: Film
• Genre: Horror
• Notes: The 'Adam and Eve' storyline.

Rebecca (1938)

• Author: Daphne Du Maurie
• Type: Novel
• Genre: Gothic, Mystery, Romance
• Notes: The '1970 in Parallel Time' storyline. The film 'Night of Dark Shadows'. The parallel time versions of the following characters are based on:
  • Angelique Stokes Collins on Rebecca.
  • Quentin Collins on Maxim de Winter.
  • Julia Hoffman on Mrs. Danvers.
  • Elizabeth Collins Stoddard on Beatrice.
  • Maggie Evans on the unnamed narrator.
  • Chris Collins on Frank Crawley
  • Bruno Hess on Jack Favell

The Wolf Man (1941)

• Author: Curt Siodmak
• Type: Film
• Genre: Horror
• Notes: Chris Jenning's and Quentin Collins' lycanthropy.

The Lottery (1948)

• Author: Shirley Jackson
• Type: Short Story
• Genre: Mystery, Horror
• Notes: The '1841 in Parallel Time' storyline.

The Pit and the Pendulum (1961)

• Author: Roger Corman (Director)
• Type: Film
• Genre: Horror
• Notes: Stylistic influence on series as a whole.

Mythology & Legend

• Faust: The story of Charles Delaware Tate.
• Pygmalion: Amanda Harris was partly based on Galatea.