Penny Dreadful

Penny dreadful was a type of cheap, sensational serial fiction that was popular in the United Kingdom in the 19th century. The term was originally used to describe a specific type of literature circulating in mid-Victorian Britain, but it came to encompass a variety of publications that featured cheap sensational fiction, such as story papers and booklet "libraries". The penny dreadfuls were printed on cheap wood pulp paper and were aimed at young working class men. The popularity of penny dreadfuls was challenged in the 1890s by the rise of competing literature, especially the half-penny periodicals published by Alfred Harmsworth.

Penny dreadfuls typically featured stories of adventure, crime, and horror. They often had lurid covers and were written in a sensational style. Some of the most popular penny dreadfuls included "The String of Pearls" (1846), which featured the character of Sweeney Todd, and "Varney the Vampire" (1845-1847).

Penny dreadfuls were often criticized for their violence and sensationalism. However, they also played an important role in the development of popular fiction. They helped to popularize the Gothic horror genre and to introduce new characters and stories to a wide audience.