My favorite examples of this niche genre include:
"The Frankenstein Diaries", attributed to "The Reverend Hubert Venables" (1980) – "A collection of Viktor Frankenstein's letters, diaries, and drawings chronicles his scientific activities, his attempts to create monstrous beings, and his tragic madness "
"Phantom", by Susan Kay (1990) – " From birth, Erik is disfigured, at once blessed and cursed. Inborn genius lifts him to the heights of the mind, but a horrible deformity denies him both his mother’s love and any chance at recognition. He escapes imprisonment to live a life on the run; he kills to be free. Finally, at the Paris Opera House, he encounters beautiful, talented Christine and defies the world and himself in a desperate attempt to love and be loved."
"Zorro", by Isabel Allende (2006) – "Between California and Barcelona, the New World and the Old, the persona of Zorro is formed, and the legend begins. After many adventures Diego de la Vega, aka Zorro, returns to America to reclaim the hacienda on which he was raised and to seek justice for all who can't fight for it themselves."
"The Life and Fantastical 'Crimes' of Spring Heeled Jack" (2020) – "The year is 1865. Falsely imprisoned for high treason, Captain John Ashton awaits execution by hanging – but instead finds himself on the run from the law and desperate to redeem his good name. Ashton assumes the guise of Spring Heeled Jack, an agile, phantomesque figure of folklore, and begins a campaign of harassment and intimidation against those who framed him. Quickly, however, he finds himself drawn into the intrigues of London's shadow-world, including a deadly game of cat and mouse against a rooftop-dwelling serial killer …"
Something about this kind of literary origin deep-dive really stokes my imagination, when it's done well. I don't know whether the genre even has a name (?) but I'd love to chat about it if there are any other aficionados here.
by TJ_Fox