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The Castle of Otranto

A Gothic Story
By Horace Walpole
Series: Oxford World's Classics
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Castle of Otranto (1764) is the pioneering Gothic novel by Horace Walpole, blending supernatural terror with medieval atmosphere. The story follows Manfred, prince of Otranto, whose obsession with an ancient prophecy leads to chaos after his son Conradโ€™s bizarre death. Manfredโ€™s desperate plan to marry Conradโ€™s betrothed, Isabella, sparks a harrowing escape through a castle filled with secret passages, ghostly encounters, mysterious revelations, and violent clashes. This groundbreaking work laid the foundations of Gothic fiction and inspired generations of horror writers.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3600

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This classic is ideal for readers interested in the origins of Gothic literature and early supernatural fiction. Fans of atmospheric, eerie tales with historical and literary significance will find it essential.

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One of the most influential Gothic novels, The Castle of Otranto established the literary effects associated with the genre: an ancient castle, secret passages, supernatural visitations, an innocent girl threatened with violence, sudden revelations, terror, and excitement. This new edition explores the reasons for the novel's impact.

A new edition of one of the most influential Gothic novels, which explores the reasons for the novel's impact.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Look, my lord! See heaven itself declares against your impious intentions!

The Castle of Otranto (1764) is the first supernatural English novel and one of the most influential works of Gothic fiction. It inaugurated a literary genre that will be forever associated with the effects that Walpole pioneered. Professing to be a translation of a mysterious Italian tale from the darkest Middle Ages, the novel tells of Manfred, prince of Otranto, whose fear of an ancient prophecy sets him on a course of destruction.

After the grotesque death of his only son, Conrad, on his wedding day, Manfred determines to marry the bride-to-be. The virgin Isabella flees through a castle riddled with secret passages. Chilling coincidences, ghostly visitations, arcane revelations, and violent combat combine in a heady mix that terrified the novel's first readers.

In this new edition Nick Groom examines the reasons for its extraordinary impact and the Gothic culture from which it sprang. The Castle of Otranto was a game-changer, and Walpole the writer who paved the way for modern horror exponents.

ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780198704447

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 09 October 2014

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Oxford University Press

Edition: 3rd Revised edition

Contributors:

  • Edited by Nick Groom

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 11.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 148g

Pages: 192

Collections

Classic Fiction Classic General Fiction Fiction General Fiction Horace Walpole Literary Fiction Series: Oxford World's Classics

About the Author

Nick Groom has published widely for both academic and popular readerships, with particular interest in questions of authenticity and the emergence of national and regional identity. His books include The Gothic (2012) for the Very Short Introductions series, The Union Jack: the Story of the British Flag (Atlantic, 2006), and The Seasons: an Elegy for the Passing of the Year (Atlantic, 2013).

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