The Castle of Otranto

by Horace Walpole, Neville Jason (Read by)

Overview

In a faraway medieval realm, Manfred, an arrogant and evil prince, rules with an iron fist. Banishing his wife to the castle dungeon, he confines -- and plans to wed -- the lovely Isabella, fiancee of his recently deceased son. The prince's plans are foiled, however, when a well-meaning peasant helps the young woman escape through the castle's underground passages. Grisly, supernatural events further aid in fulfilling a prophecy that spells doom for the prince and justice for Isabella's rescuer and rightful heir to the throne. One of the first and greatest of Gothic novels, this thrilling tale ranks among the most influential books in literary history. Serving as the model for plots, characterizations, settings, and tone for hundreds of successors, The Castle of Otranto abounds with colorful scenes, adventure, suspense, and inexplicable phenomena.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781094012766
Publisher:	Naxos
Publication date:	09/03/2019
Edition description:	Unabridged
Product dimensions:	6.60(w) x 6.10(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Horace Walpole (1717–1797), was educated at Eton and King’s College, Cambridge, and then spent several years in politics. In 1757, he established a private printing press at Strawberry Hill, his home in Twickenham. There he published his own works as well as those of other authors. Upon his death, he held the title of Earl of Oxford.

Tony Jay was born in London. A former Royal Shakespeare Company actor, he is a veteran of stage, television, film, and radio. His voice is recognized internationally for his work as Judge Frollo in Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame and in innumerable narrations for the History Channel and A&E.

Table of Contents

	Introduction: Horace Walpole and The Castle of Otranto	vii
	The Castle of Otranto
	Sir Walter Scott's Introduction	3
	Preface to the First Edition	17
	Preface to the Second Edition	21
	The Castle of Otranto	27

Editorial Reviews

Narrator Tony Jay’s deep, resonant voice is perfectly suited to the gothic trappings of this romance. His subtle characterizations, including a deft handling of the three women at the heart of the story, make the dialogue easy to follow. For best results, listen to this recording in a cold, damp dungeon.”

AudioFile

To The Castle Otranto we owe nothing less than a revolution in public taste, and its influence is strong even at present day.”

author of The Gothic Quest Montague Summers

In reviving this largely forgotten tale in audio format, Blackstone deserves credit for recognizing that it—like any classic ghost story—is at its best when read well out loud. Jay’s sonorous, menacing voice and expressive, fast paced performance so heighten the aura of evil that listeners can easily focus on the action.”

Kliatt

The merging of romance and realist conventions into a form which would later be designated ‘Gothic’ inspired several subsequent generations of writers.”

Oxford University Press

"Containing a Harry Potter-like array of animated portraits, supernatural adventures in vaults and cellars and astonishing, inexplicable events."  —Telegraph

From the Publisher

If you’ve never read or listened to THE CASTLE OF OTRANTO, you’ve almost certainly encountered dozens of works that were influenced by it. First published in 1764 and considered the granddaddy of gothic fiction, it’s the story of the impetuous Manfred, Prince of Otranto, and the curse on his ancestral line. Narrator Tony Jay’s deep, resonant voice is perfectly suited to the gothic trappings of this romance. His subtle characterizations, including a deft handling of the three women at the heart of the story, make the dialogue easy to follow. For best results, listen to this recording in a cold, damp dungeon. D.B. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine

DEC 06/JAN 07 - AudioFile