STAFF CONTRIBUTOR:
Nikki, HPL Public Services Librarian
Do you like dark and twisty reads? Does your wardrobe embrace an academic aesthetic—think tweed blazers, oxford shirts, turtlenecks, corduroy, and loafers? Do you dream of dusty libraries where you lose yourself in history and classic literature or engage in philosophical debates? If so, dark academia might be right up your alley.
The pursuit of knowledge, self-discovery, existentialism, privilege, old money, secret societies, an air of something sinister…. this is the world of dark academia. The genre has exploded in recent years and its popularity has led to new and more representation beyond the historically white and straight-centric foundation. Stop at the library and check out our Dark Academia book display for a wide range of title suggestions.
Here are a few to get you started:
- For fans of serial killer fiction with a feminist twist: They Never Learn by Layne Fargo
- For fans of angsty, fast-paced teen dramas: The New Girl by Jesse Q. Sutanto
- For fans of creepy psychological thrillers: The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
- For fans of slow burners with gothic vibes: Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas
- For fans of obsession, murder, and the Beat Generation: Kill Your Darlings (movie)
- For fans of fantasy for grown-ups: The Magicians (TV series based on the book by Lev Grossman)