‘Horrid Mysteries, subtitled ‘A Story From the German Of The Marquis Of Grosse’ was originally written by Carl Grosse as the German Gothic novel ‘Der Genius’, and translated by Peter Will for publication as ‘Horrid Mysteries’ for the gothic fiction sensationalist Minerva Press in 1796. In the story the Marquis of Grosse is embroiled in a secret society, which advocates murder and mayhem in the pursuit of ideals similar to those expressed during the French Revolution. Creating a rival society to combat them, the stories gothic themes include lurid portrayals of sex, violence and barbarism.