The Castle of Otranto: A Gothic Story (Paperback) by Horace Walpole, W S Lewis, E J Clery

from amerynth

I can appreciate the impact that Horace Walpole's "The Castle of Otranto" had on storytelling and literature, but it's a novel that certainly hasn't aged well. Considered the first Gothic novel, it weaves together a terrific tale of tragedy with supernatural elements just accepted by everyone as ...

from souloftherose

I wanted to read a gothic novel to help me better understand what Jane Austen is satirizing in Northanger Abbey. I picked The Castle of Otranto purely because it was the shortest. The book (published in 1764) starts with an introduction from Horace Walpole explaining that this is an English trans...

from BridgetMarie

Absolutely over the top and more wonderful for it, READ THE TWO INTRODUCTIONS, it makes all the difference in the world, especially if you know the different reactions from his audiences. I had to read this book for a class and ended up keeping it instead of turning it in. Credited as being the f...

from SlySionnach

The original Gothic novel sets a standard of melodrama that soap operas would be proud to follow. And I say that in a good way. With hidden sons, love triangles, returning from the dead and ghosts and giants abounding, this quick read is good for a glimpse into what shaped the Gothic era of writi...

from amydross

This story is often cited as the first/one of the first gothic novels, but it's hard to believe since even at this early date it already reads like pastiche. Far from being predictable archetypes, the main characters are constantly upsetting our expectations: the pure, steadfast maiden turns out ...