In the 19th century, “Penny Dreadfuls” were serialized installments of stories you could buy for a penny. Millions were fascinated, horrified, and titillated by the grisly tales of murder, crime, and the supernatural, with the occasional romance thrown in to broaden the audience. Interestingly they were extremely popular with children and teenagers. Current thinking credits the popularity of Penny Dreadfuls with helping to promote literacy, especially among younger readers. This was a time when, for many children, formal education was nonexistent or “Dickensian.”
But alas, that is a time gone by. Nowadays between texting, social media and apathy literacy is struggling. But on a happier note Penny Dreadful tales are now available daily at no charge. Just read (or watch) the news.